A Lost Neolithic Society: The Maghreb's Role in Mediterranean Prehistory
A Lost Neolithic Society: The Maghreb's Role in Mediterranean Prehistory
New archaeological findings from Morocco reveal a previously unknown Neolithic society, highlighting North Africa's pivotal role in shaping Mediterranean and African cultural evolution.
Recent archaeological fieldwork1 in Morocco has uncovered a previously unknown Neolithic society, shedding new light on North Africa’s pivotal role in the development of Mediterranean prehistory. This discovery fills a significant gap in understanding the cultural and agricultural evolution of the region between 4000 and 1000 BC. The Maghreb, often overlooked during this dynamic era, is now recognized as a key player in intercontinental exchanges and societal transformations.
The Maghreb’s Strategic Position
Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, the Sahara Desert, and Europe, the Maghreb's location made it a natural hub for cultural interactions. While its significance during the Paleolithic and later periods is well-documented, this study, published in Antiquity, focuses on the crucial yet under-explored time span of the late Neolithic. Previous knowledge of Mediterranean prehistory has largely overlooked the contribution of North Africa, especially its western region. The findings from Oued Beht, a site in northwestern Morocco, challenge previous assumptions about this area's role in early Mediterranean development.
Groundbreaking Discoveries at Oued Beht
The interdisciplinary research team, led by Youssef Bokbot (INSAP), Cyprian Broodbank (Cambridge University), and Giulio Lucarini (CNR-ISPC and ISMEO), uncovered what is now considered the largest agricultural settlement of its time outside the Nile Valley. The evidence includes domesticated plant and animal remains, pottery, lithics, and deep storage pits, all dating back to the Final Neolithic period. These discoveries point to a thriving farming society comparable in scale to the Early Bronze Age city of Troy.
Prof. Cyprian Broodbank, reflecting on the importance of these discoveries, stated,
“For over thirty years I have been convinced that Mediterranean archaeology has been missing something fundamental in later prehistoric North Africa. Now, at last, we know that was right.”
Connections Across the Mediterranean
Perhaps most striking is the evidence linking Oued Beht to contemporaneous sites in Iberia, across the Strait of Gibraltar. Pits similar to those found in Morocco have been identified in Iberia, alongside African-sourced materials such as ivory and ostrich eggs. This connection suggests that the Maghreb played an instrumental role in shaping the development of the western Mediterranean during the fourth millennium BC. These findings open new perspectives on the movement of people, goods, and ideas between North Africa and southern Europe.
A Shift in Prehistoric Understanding
The recognition of Oued Beht as a significant agricultural and cultural center challenges the long-standing narrative that North Africa was marginal to the development of Mediterranean societies. This study emphasizes the need to view this region within a broader, interconnected framework that includes both sides of the Mediterranean. The research team highlights that this site was not merely a peripheral outpost but an active, African-based community that contributed substantially to the social and cultural landscape of the time.
The researchers stated,
“Oued Beht now affirms the central role of the Maghreb in the emergence of both Mediterranean and wider African societies.”
This revelation underscores the previously underestimated influence of the region on prehistoric human development, agricultural practices, and long-distance trade networks.
Conclusion
The groundbreaking discoveries at Oued Beht fundamentally reshape the understanding of Neolithic societies in North Africa and their role in Mediterranean history. The Maghreb, often viewed as isolated from the dynamic developments of the Mediterranean, is now acknowledged as a vital contributor to the cultural evolution of the region. These findings pave the way for further research into North Africa’s prehistoric societies, offering exciting new insights into the complex web of interactions that shaped the ancient world.
Broodbank, C., Lucarini, G., Bokbot, Y., Benattia, H., Bigoulimen, A., Farr, L., Garcia-Molsosa, A., Hachami, H., Laoutari, R., Lombardi, L., Marsilio, A., Martin, L., Morales, J., Radi, M., Michele Rega, F., & Wilkinson, T. (2024). Oued Beht, Morocco: a complex early farming society in north-west Africa and its implications for western Mediterranean interaction during later prehistory. Antiquity, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.101