A groundbreaking discovery in Morocco has rewritten our understanding of North Africa’s prehistoric past. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 5,000-year-old farming society, the oldest of its kind ever found in Africa outside the Nile Valley. This remarkable find sheds light on a previously unknown civilization that flourished thousands of years ago, challenging long-held assumptions about the region’s inhabitants.
The site, known as Oued Beht, is located in northern Morocco. It was first discovered by French colonists in the 1930s, but remained largely unexplored for nearly a century. Moroccan archaeologist Youssef Bokbot, recognizing the potential significance of the site, rallied a team of experts to undertake a thorough excavation. The results, published in the journal Antiquity, revealed a treasure trove of artifacts, including thousands of stone ax heads and painted pottery shards. The sheer volume of these objects suggests a thriving community, comparable in size to the Bronze Age city of Troy.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal and seeds unearthed at the site has pinpointed its age to between 3400 and 2900 B.C. These findings suggest a sophisticated society with a diverse population. According to a 2023 study co-authored by Bokbot, the inhabitants of Oued Beht likely included individuals with genetic links to the Sahara, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Middle East. This melting pot of cultures highlights the dynamic nature of the region during this period.
The discovery of seeds for barley, wheat, peas, olives, and pistachios provides evidence of a thriving agricultural community that successfully cultivated the arid land. The remains of sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle further indicate the importance of livestock to their subsistence. The abundance of pottery and stone ax heads suggests that this Neolithic society engaged in trade with other Bronze and Copper Age civilizations in the Mediterranean, such as those in the Iberian Peninsula, and potentially Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Until now, archaeologists have believed that North Africa, like sub-Saharan Africa during this period, was primarily inhabited by hunter-gatherers and pastoralists. This discovery fundamentally alters that narrative, demonstrating the presence of stationary farming-based societies in North Africa, mirroring those found across the Mediterranean. The discovery of Oued Beht highlights the importance of revisiting long-held assumptions about ancient societies and challenging the traditional narrative of prehistoric North Africa. This site represents a crucial piece of the puzzle, demonstrating that the region was far more sophisticated and interconnected than previously understood.
