In this new episode of the #Nomad series, Yabiladi invites you to discover an emblematic place. The Ifri n’Amr cave has delivered some good surprises to archaeologists.
Morocco is rich in archaeological discoveries. Imagine that in the province of Khemisset is the cave of Ifri n’Amr O’moussa where two civilizations of several thousand years lived, leaving behind them many treasures.
The cave of Ifri n’ Amr O’Moussa is located on the plateaus of Zemmour in the rural town of Ait Siberne (province of Khemisset), along the national road number 6 which leads to Meknes. Impossible to miss it, since stairs have been built to access it. Curiosity is titillated as you approach this emblematic archaeological site of the kingdom. The cave can be visited for free.
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Geographical location of the cave. / Ph. Youssef Bokbot
“It’s a beautiful landscape when you see an open cave on a cliff with stairs leading to it, it encourages people to climb there,” explains archeology professor Youssef Bokbot in Yabiladi. “The cave was discovered in 2005”, he adds, the excavations did not begin until 2006 and led to the discovery of several burials, habitats and archaeological furniture. The excavations lasted until 2015, specifies the professor. “The cave can easily hold 200 people inside. The ceiling is very high”, he describes.
Morocco is the only country on the southern shore of the Mediterranean to have traces of Bell Beaker civilization (prehistoric culture), which is due to the geographical proximity to Europe (especially Spain and Portugal). The Beaker is a civilization whose “ceramic valves have the shape of an inverted bell – term in English, Bell-Beaker”, informs Youssef Bokbot.
Two major cultures and civilizations were discovered during the excavations: Bell Beaker and Cardial. “This means that two large clans have succeeded each other in the cave,” explains the professor. The periods of their existence are the Neolithic – from 5400 to 3000 years before Jesus Christ – represented by furniture such as: polished stone axes and grinding wheels among others. These are among the major discoveries of the cave. Another period has been highlighted in the place: the Chalcolithic – between 3000 and 1800 years BC. Other rare objects were unearthed such as the point of Palmella, an eyed needle and many pawns and feathers.
Palmella arrowhead and pawn / Ph. Youssef Bokbot
“Evidence of prehistoric occupation that dates back at least 120,000 years”
“In 2012, we tested a geological probe to find out the archaeological potential that we have not yet reached, recalls Youssef Bokbot. This has given us evidence of prehistoric occupation dating back at least 120,000 years,” he adds. This means that the potential of the cave is rich, “six or seven civilizations still follow one another down there”, explains the professor.
“We just reached 1m70 deep during our excavations. If you venture up to six meters deep, other civilizations are yet to be discovered.
So far, seven human skeletons have been exhumed. They are now at the Institute of Archeology in Rabat and date from 5300 to 4800 BC. “There are still skeletons buried in the cave that we have not yet exhumed”, specifies Youssef Bokbot.
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View of the cliff that houses the cave. / Ph. Youssef Bokbot
“When we discovered the first skeleton, it caused a boom among the population and the authorities. The kingpin of the time wanted to refer it to the king’s prosecutor, as if it were a recent crime. I started to laugh and told him that he must notify the king’s attorney of 5000 years before Jesus Christ.
“We sampled the DNA and sent skeletal samples to Stanford University in the United States and to Stockholm University in Sweden,” he says. “We are waiting for the results of DNA analyzes to know the genetic connections of these Moroccan populations with European populations”, gives us the professor by way of conclusion.