Latest news with #HamzaBenattia
Morocco World
16-05-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
Archaeologists Discover 4,000-Year-Old Burial Sites in Tangier Peninsula
Rabat– Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in northern Morocco's Tangier Peninsula, just south of the Strait of Gibraltar. The team unearthed three ancient cemeteries, including a stone burial estimated to date back approximately 4,000 years. Published on May 13 in the African Archaeological Review , the research offers unprecedented insights into the prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape of northwest Africa. Led by Hamza Benattia, a doctoral student, the study aimed to investigate burial customs and the cultural evolution of the region, which remains one of the least studied in the broader Mediterranean area. Despite centuries of archaeological work across North Africa, the prehistoric period west of Egypt remains poorly understood, the study noted. The team explored sites across the northwestern Tangier Peninsula, focusing on the period between 3000 and 500 B.C. Their excavation revealed three cemeteries, some of which feature 'cist burials,' rectangular graves carved into the rock and sealed with large stone slabs. These tombs represent a considerable investment of time and labor, suggesting the significance of burial practices to the region's ancient inhabitants. Read also: Moroccan Archeologists Unearth Lost Chapter in Moroccan History Radiocarbon analysis of human remains found within one cist burial confirmed that the tomb dates to around 2000 B.C. According to the research team, this is the first-ever radiocarbon-dated cist burial in northwest Africa, providing a vital chronological reference for future studies in the region. 'These burials show a rich mosaic of funerary traditions,' the researchers wrote, underlining the cultural complexity of early societies in the area. Such discoveries help fill crucial gaps in understanding the social and ritual practices that shaped prehistoric communities in Morocco. Another remarkable find was the presence of circular engravings, or 'cup marks,' carved into the walls of some shelters. These were often arranged in patterns such as circles and parallel lines, possibly serving ritualistic or territorial purposes. Nearby standing stones may have functioned as boundary markers, reinforcing the theory that these sites held ceremonial and social importance. These findings not only enrich the archaeological record of Morocco but also help redefine the role of North Africa in the broader story of human civilization across the Mediterranean basin. Tags: archeological discovery in Moroccoarcheology discoveryTangier
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Burial Sites Dating Back 4,000 Years
Archaeologists working in Morocco have unearthed three separate ancient cemeteries, including one stone burial plot dating back 4,000 years, according to a study published May 13 in the journal African Archaeological Review. Researchers say the burial sites, located in the Tangier Peninsula, show a 'rich mosaic of burial traditions' from the ancient community. To date, there has been precious little work conducted into the history of burial rituals in the area. "It is a sad reality that the later prehistoric funerary and ritual landscapes of North Africa west of Egypt remain, despite extensive investigation over the past 200 years, the least widely known and understood in the Mediterranean region," the study for sites dating from 3,000 B.C. to 500 B.C., scientists found three sites featuring 'cist burials.' Cist burials are when a hole is cut within a rock to place the body, with stone slabs placed over the top to mark the grave. "Their construction likely required a significant time and effort investment," lead author Hamza Benattia told Live Science, noting how difficult it was to cut stone. Using radiocarbon dating, Benattia and the rest of the team analyzed bones from one of the graves and deduced that it had been built around 2,000 B.C. It marks the first time radiocarbon dating has been used to investigate a burial in Northwest discovered were roughly one dozen shelters, all of which were decorated with rock art on the walls. In addition to geometric shapes, the art features anthropomorphic and human-like drawings, which researchers believe depict ancient gods or members of the community. Several "remarkable" etchings show "eight opposed triangles one over the other, known regionally as 'bi-triangulars,'" the study noted. Researchers in Ibiza found similar drawings, and "they have often been interpreted as anthropomorphic figures, sometimes specifically as feminine representations," Benattia explained. Benattia noted that the discoveries suggest to scientists that the "ritual landscapes of the Tangier Peninsula are far more complex and widespread than previously assumed…with their closest parallels in late prehistoric southern Iberia and the Sahara."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
4,000-year-old stone-lined burial discovered in Morocco
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in Tangier, just south of the Strait of Gibraltar, have discovered three ancient cemeteries, including a stone burial dating to around 4,000 years ago. In addition, the team found a number of rock shelters painted with rock art and standing stones that may have marked territories. The ancient cemeteries show a "rich mosaic of burial traditions," the researchers wrote in a study published Tuesday (May 13) in the journal African Archaeological Review. The archaeological sites are located in the Tangier Peninsula of Morocco. How long the region has been inhabited, and how the lives of people changed over time, is a source of debate among scholars. Researchers note that there has been little archaeological work examining its burial customs and ancient landscape. "It is a sad reality that the later prehistoric funerary and ritual landscapes of North Africa west of Egypt remain, despite extensive investigation over the past 200 years, the least widely known and understood in the Mediterranean region," the researchers wrote in the study. During their investigation of the northwestern Tangier Peninsula, the archaeologists looked for sites dating from 3000 to 500 B.C. They found three cemeteries, some of which have "cist burials," which consist of a hole cut into the rock, with stone slabs that were sometimes used to cover and mark it. Cutting into the rock is difficult, and "their construction likely required a significant time and effort investment," study first author Hamza Benattia, a doctoral student in the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Barcelona who led the archaeological team, told Live Science in an email. The team radiocarbon dated human bones from one of the cist burials, which revealed that the tomb was constructed around 2000 B.C. This is the first time that a radiocarbon date has been obtained for a cist burial in northwest Africa, the team wrote in the paper. The team found about a dozen shelters with rock art on their walls. The art includes a wide variety of geometric designs that feature squares, dots and wavy lines. They also include anthropomorphic, or humanlike figures that may depict people or deities. At some rock shelters, circular engravings that archaeologists call "cup marks" were found on the walls. These cup marks are sometimes arranged in designs, including circles and parallel lines. Image 1 of 2 The rock art scene here is known as a "bi-triangular" and consists of eight opposed triangles, one over the other. The colors have been enhanced with computer software. Image 2 of 2 The rock art seen here has a variety of geometric patterns, which have been enhanced with digital software. A few "remarkable" drawings show "eight opposed triangles one over the other, known regionally as 'bi-triangulars,'" the team wrote in the study. Similar drawings have been found in Iberia, and "they have often been interpreted as anthropomorphic figures, sometimes specifically as feminine representations," Benattia said. Another interesting form of rock art the team found depicts squares with dots and lines inside; similar rock art has been found in the Sahara Desert, the team noted in their paper. RELATED STORIES —Northwestern Morocco was inhabited long before the Phoenicians arrived, 4,200-year-old settlement reveals —Remains of 5,000-year-old farming society as large as ancient Troy discovered in Morocco —90,000-year-old human footprints found on a Moroccan beach are some of the oldest and best preserved in the world At both the cemeteries and rock art sites, archaeologists found the remains of standing stones that stood pointing up toward the sky. A few sites had several standing stones clustered together in the same spot. These stones vary in size, with one of the largest standing more than 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) tall. "Standing stones have widely been seen as territorial markers in prehistoric times" Benattia said, noting that they "may also have functioned as sites of aggregation and ritual activity." The findings suggest that the "ritual landscapes of the Tangier Peninsula are far more complex and widespread than previously assumed," the team wrote in the study, "with their closest parallels in late prehistoric southern Iberia and the Sahara."
Morocco World
12-04-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
Moroccan Archeologists Unearth Lost Chapter in Moroccan History
An archeological study published by Cambridge University Press in February revealed a 4200-year-old settlement in the northwest of Morocco – a scientific breakthrough given that this region was thought to have been uninhabited before the Phoenicians. Morocco World News spoke to Hamza Benattia, the Archeologist who led his team to this discovery, to gain insights into the research and the people behind it. Finding Kach Kouch The story of Kach Kouch begins in 1988, in the Oued Laou Valley of northwestern Morocco. The site was first discovered by a Moroccan-Spanish team led by Mohamed-Abdeljalil El Hajraoui and Manuel Fernandez-Miranda. Initially known as Dhar Moudden, the landowners at the time—the Baztaoui family—referred to it as 'Kach Kouch', a name believed to derive from 'Kshaouesh', meaning 'clatter,' probably in reference to the broken pottery sherds scattered across the site. Kach Kouch Archeological Site, Northwestern Morocco In 1992, targeted excavations led by Youssef Bokbot and Jorge Onrubia-pintado confirmed that Kach Kouch was an Iron Age Mauretanian settlement covering approximately 0.5 hectares, and settled between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The excavations at the time revealed evidence of habitations constructed employing a technique that involved weaving wooden branches (wattle) and covering them with mud or clay (daub). They also uncovered rock-cut silos for the storage of plant products such as cereals and pulses. North Africa before the Phoenicians Recent excavations at Kach Kouch, in 2021 and 2022, were led by Hamza Benattia Melgarejo from the University of Barcelona. His team uncovered evidence of human occupation dating from 2200 to 600 BC, making it the first known Bronze Age site in Mediterranean Africa—excluding Egypt. These findings challenge long-held assumptions that northwestern Africa was largely uninhabited until the Phoenicians arrived around 800 BC. Traditionally, the Mediterranean's European and Asian shores have been widely recognized for their cultural and economic developments during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages ,2200–550 BC, while the African side remained overlooked. However, the discoveries at Kach Kouch now reveal an early settlement dating back to 2200–2000 BC, followed by a stable and flourishing community between 1300 and 600 BC. This period saw the construction of wattle-and-daub buildings, the practice of agriculture and herding, and the development of distinctive cultural traditions. This study debunks the outdated belief that North Africa was uninhabited before the Phoenician arrival. Contrary to earlier assumptions, this region was home to settled farming and herding communities that engaged in cultural exchanges with other regions. The study also highlights the strong connections between Morocco and the wider Mediterranean and Atlantic. One striking example is a Bronze Age sword discovered in the Loukkos River (Larache) in the 1920s. The sword, now kept in a Berlin Museum, was likely crafted in what is now the United Kingdom or Ireland, proving that long-range exchanges and interactions occurred centuries before the Phoenicians arrived. Phoenicians and Local-Communities The Phoenicians were a semitic people known for seafaring and trade, mainly inhabiting the Levant, in modern day Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Through maritime trade and colonization, they expanded their influence widely across the Mediterranean and established settlements and trading hubs that stretched as far as Western and North Africa, with Carthage, in modern day Tunisia as one of their strongholds in the region, founded around 900-800 BC. One of the key legacies of the Phoenician expansion in modern day Morocco is the ancient settlement at Lixus, near Larache, which was founded around 750 BC. This site highlights the close relations between Phoenicians and local communities and their ability to blend their traditions; which impacted the region's historical and cultural developments. For example, Phoenicians introduced the alphabet, iron technology, the potter's wheel (wheel thrown pottery, because until then Moroccan pottery was handmade), as well as new domesticated plant species such as fruit trees. It is common knowledge that Amazigh people are the indigenous people that originally inhabited North Africa, so I asked Benattia if the study talks about this same community when talking about the people that inhabited the land in prehistoric times, before the Phoenicians. According to the archaeologist, the terms 'Amazigh' and 'Berber' were both coined in later times and not necessarily reflect how those prehistoric communities referred to themselves; which is why he finds the term 'local communities' or 'proto-Amazigh' more accurate. 'they for sure had a language already, probably similar to the today Amazigh language, but it's unlikely that they had this identity or sense of belonging to a people…they were more drawn towards tribal or kin based relations…there is something interesting related to that question that needs further investigation. For what we know now, the inhabitants of Kach Kouch are the direct ancestors of the mauretanian peoples' said Benattia. Hamza Benattia and Hassan Hachami taking measurement with the total station The Team Behind the Discovery This groundbreaking study , published by Cambridge University Press, was conducted primarily by a young Moroccan team from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage (INSAP) led by Hamza Benattia. Originally from Tangier, Benattia grew up cradled by the city's rich mythology, Roman heritage, and Mauretanian history. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in History at the University of Barcelona, followed by another degree in Archaeology. In 2018, he returned to Morocco to work on his PhD and carry out further archaeological research in the region, with another major study set to be published soon. Hamza Benattia— Leader of the 2025 Excavations at Kach Kouch Benattia emphasized the potential of Moroccan archaeology, despite challenges such as limited funding. He praised the dedication of Moroccan researchers, highlighting that their work being published in one of the world's most prestigious archaeological journals is a testament to their capabilities. Othmane Echcherif Baamrani, Meryem Benerradi, Oulaya El Idrissi, Maria Sahli and Hamza Benattia Noufel Ghayati and Oulaya El Idrissi Oulay El Idrissi and Maria Sahli 'I am happy that this discovery was made by a Moroccan team… I am really proud of that, at the same level as the discoveries themselves,' said Benattia Challenging Eurocentric Bias in Archaeology Despite Morocco's rich archaeological heritage, much of its history has been overlooked due to colonial influences. Benattia points out that when archaeology was introduced to North Africa, it was dominated by European colonial powers, which led to biased research priorities and neglected historical periods. 'Most of the Neolithic period up to the Phoenicians' arrival remains largely unknown—not only in Morocco but also in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.' — Hamza Benattia Colonialism shaped not just archaeological research methods and interpretations but also contributed to the looting of artifacts. European scholars often downplayed indigenous contributions, portraying North Africa as a land of wandering nomads and 'barbarians' rather than a region with complex societies and long-standing connections to global exchange networks. Moad Radi holding a chipped stone unearthed along with three pottery shards, a cow bone; all evidence of habitation that go back to 2200 and 2000 BC. Artifacts stolen under colonial rule—often displayed in European museums—were taken under the pretense that local populations would not recognize their historical value or know how to preserve them. Today, many archaeologists are working to decolonize the field and restore an accurate history of North Africa. Benattia and his team have played a crucial role in this movement by leading the first-ever archaeological project in Morocco conducted primarily by a Moroccan research team. Their work is rewriting history, proving that North Africa was not an isolated region but an integral part of the ancient Mediterranean and Atlantic networks. Excavation team with three members of a local speleologist association. A special team acknowledgment by Hamza Benattia It was crucial for Benattia to acknowledge every member of his team and laud their role in making this discovery, providing a list of all their names: The team is composed of Moad Radi specialist in polished tools, Meriem Benerradi specialist in human bones, Hassan Hachami specialist in animal bones, Bouchra Bouhamidi specialist in rock art, Othmane Echcherif-Baamrani specialist in chipped stones, Noufel Ghayati specialist in GIS and 3D modelling, Asmae el Qably specialist in Mauretanian pottery and Tachfine Touri specialist in plant remains. Other students that participated include Zayd Ouakrim, Mouna Qazzih, Maria Sahli, Oulaya El Idrissi, Ismael Toumi, Khaoula Hor, Malakout Kiche and Fatima Zohra Farhi.
