New evidence for a large prehistoric settlement in an annular geomorphological structure in Southwest Morocco

              ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM39
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ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM41
Inhaltsverzeichnis
(der kompletten Print-Version)
Luis Alberto Anaya Hernández:
Las nuevas ideas y la Inquisición .................................................................. 9
Joaquín Caridad Arias:
Temas lingüísticos canarios .......................................................................... 23
Julien d'Huy:
Le récit du  Chasseur adroit :
un mythe kabyle à remonter le temps ? ......................................................... 37
Michael Hübner & Sebastian Hübner:
New evidence for a large prehistoric settlement
in an annular geomorphological structure in Southwest Morocco ............. 43
Werner Pichler & Alain Rodrigue:
The rock art site of Hadjart (Taouz, Morocco) ............................................. 51
Andoni Sáenz de Buruaga:
Una nueva estación artística en el Tiris saharaui: presentación
del abrigo rupestre de Lejuad VIII (Duguech, Sahara Occidental) ................ 63
R. Santana Rodríguez, J. M. Pérez Luzardo, J. Pérez-Luzardo Díaz:
El hábitat troglodita en Gran Canaria:
Evolución del hogar desde tiempos prehispánicos ......................................... 89
Susan Searight-Martinet:
Rock engravings from Asli Bou Kerch, Smara, Western Sahara .................. 109
Hans-Joachim Ulbrich:
Die podomorphen Felsbilder von Lanzarote (Kanarische Inseln) ................. 133
Hartwig E. Steiner:
Altkanarische Stätten in Las Playas / El Hierro III:
 Poblado del Letime  – eine Höhen-Siedlung mit Höhlen-Heiligtum? ......... 169
 
42MMALMOGAREN XLII/2011
Hübner, Michael; Hübner, Sebastian (2011): New evidence for a large prehistoric
settlement in an annular geomorphological structure in Southwest Morocco.-
Almogaren XLII (Institutum Canarium), Wien, 43-49
Zitieren Sie bitte diesen Aufsatz folgendermaßen / Please cite this article as follows:
ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM43
Almogaren XLII / 2011 Wien 2011 43 - 49
Michael Hübner & Sebastian Hübner
New evidence for a large prehistoric settlement in
an annular geomorphological structure in
Southwest Morocco
Keywords: Morocco, prehistoric settlement, Wavy Line pottery, modern destruction
Abstract:
In this paper, the results of two expeditions to a large prehistoric settlement (covering an
area of about 20 km²) are summarized. The settlement is situated inside an annular
geomorphological structure in Southwest Morocco. Five very unusual constructions are
highlighted: a large stone-circle complex, a triangular shaped complex, an oval building,
a large earth wall and a Cursus-like monument. Remarkable is the finding of incised
Wavy Line pottery at the site. At current, this is the westernmost example of mesolithic
Wavy Line decoration. Unfortunately the site is subject to massive destruction by local
stone grinding mills.
Zusammenfassung:
Diese Arbeit beschreibt die Ergebnisse zweier Expeditionen zu einer großen prähist-orischen
Siedlung (auf einer Fläche von ca. 20 km²). Die Siedlung befindet sich in einer
ringförmigen geomorphologischen Struktur im Südwesten Marokkos. Fünf sehr unge-wöhnliche
Konstruktionen werden hervorgehoben: ein großer Stein-Kreis-Komplex, ein
dreieckiger Komplex, ein ovales Gebäude, ein großer Erdwall und ein Cursus-ähnliches
Monument. Bemerkenswert ist der Fund von Wellenlinien-Keramik. Zurzeit ist dieses
der westlichste Fund mesolithischen Wellenlinien-Dekors. Leider ist die Fundstätte einer
massiven Zerstörung durch lokale Steinmühlen ausgesetzt.
Resumen:
El presente trabajo describe los resultados de dos expediciones a un extenso asentamiento
prehistórico (en una superficie de aprox. 20 km²). Con una estructura geomorfológica
circular, el asentamiento se encuentra en el suroeste de Marruecos. Se destacan cinco
construcciones muy poco habituales: un gran complejo de círculos de piedra, un complejo
triangular, una edificación oval, un gran terraplén y un monumento parecido a un cursus.
Digno de atención es el hallazgo de cerámica con líneas onduladas. Actualmente es el más
occidental de los hallazgos de adorno mesolítico con líneas onduladas. Lamentablemente,
el yacimiento está expuesto a una masiva destrucción causada por los molinos de bola de
la localidad.
In this article, the results of two expeditions to an ancient settlement in
southwest Morocco are summarized. The expeditions took place from Sep-
44MMALMOGAREN XLII/2011
tember 10th to 16th 2008, and from May 19th to 29th 2010. In the field, we
came upon a great manifold of ruins with prehistoric features. Unfortunately,
many of these monuments are currently being demolished by stone grinding
mills. In publishing this article, the authors wish to emphasize the importance
of the site and hope to encourage future scientific investigations.
The caldera-like annular geomorphological structure is located in South
Morocco, 8 km east of Agadir in a landscape called Tagragra. It is situated
between the shore of the Atlantic Ocean (distance: 13 km), the Souss River
(distance: 5 km) and the western Atlas Mountains (distance: 2 km). All ruins
and monuments found in situ are located either on a hill inside the annular
geomorphological structure, or on the surrounding ring of hills. The geological
origin of the structure appears to be an anticline. It has a diameter of ˜ 3 km (˜
5 km including the surrounding ring of hills) and strongly resembles a crater,
although no evidence of volcanism has been found in this particular area
(Ambroggi, 1963). On the central hill several dried up springs are located. The
surrounding hills are 100-255 m in height.
Inside the geomorphological structure and on the surrounding hills,
hundreds of ancient stone constructions of different types are present. We
found large numbers of ruined buildings, caverns, cisterns, paths, stone heaps
and traces of agricultural landscaping. Next to these ruins, a multitude of stone
tools were found. In addition, we discovered some rather unusual con-structions:
a large stone circle complex, a 6 km long earth wall, a cursus-like
structure, stone floorings and a place with rock carvings. The dimension of
the entire ensemble is rather town-sized than village-sized. This size and the
presence of several unique stone monuments make the settlement very distinct
from neighboring archaeological sites.
For the most part, the buildings were found in the central area of the annular
structure. In some aspects, their construction patterns are reminiscent of
prehistoric architecture found in Europe (e.g. in the British Isles, Ireland or
Sardinia). Basic features of the ruined buildings are: (1) Foundation walls were
accurately manufactured and are very solid (diameter: 120-260 cm); (2)
Foundation walls are covered by large amounts of debris; (3) Both large and
Figure 1: Panorama of the annular geomorphological structure
ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM45
Figure 2: Schematic sketch of the annular geomorphological structure including artifact
finds. (A) Circular or oval structure; (B) Ruined buildings; (a) Neolithic style ceramics;
(b) Neolithic stone tools; (c) Stone axe; (d) Microliths; (e) Menhir; (f) Plaster containing
mica; (g) Rock carvings; (h) Caverns and jug-like cisterns; (i) Tub-like cisterns; (j)
Stone heaps; (k) Stone terraces; (l) Field of widespread building blocks/rubble; (m)
Stone flooring; (n) Kiln; (o) Unexplored items; (Thick line) Earth wall; (Thin line)
Straight path/cursus; (White truck) Stone evacuation; Satellite image: Google Earth.
small stones are present; (4) Oval, circular and triangular ground plans are
present; (5) Few rectangular ground plans are present (some of these seem to
be recent, but may have been built on top of earlier walls); (6) Absence of
regularly worked stones; (7) Predominantly white, reddish and black stones
used; (8) Stones are weather-beaten, deeply eroded and covered by large
lichens; (9) The walls are overgrown by centuries-old Argan trees; (10) All
buildings are in a very bad state of preservation.
Until now we have not found any mention of a town or village within this
particular region in late-antique, medieval and recent literature including
46MMALMOGAREN XLII/2011
many maps; The settlement might have been mentioned in ancient sources
e.g. in Ptolemy's Geographike Hyphegesis Town of the Gaetuli Autololes/
Autolata or Diodorus Siculus' Town of Menê (gr. Mene = Moon, which may
correspond to the circular geomorphology of the structure); Possibly, the
settlement has been abandoned within a short time in antiquity. A reason for
this could be the destruction by an earthquake or the drying out of water
sources (wells and springs).
The following evidence suggests that the settlement has prehistoric origins:
(1) Findings of a great manifold of prehistoric stone tools inside and next to
the ruins; (2) Findings of mesolithic and neolithic-style ceramics inside the
ruins and in their immediate vicinity; (3) Absence of wood and metal findings;
(4) Oval, circular and curvy ground plans of buildings; (5) Extremely eroded
building stones despite semiarid climate; (6) Large size of lichens despite se-miarid
climate (most building blocks are completely covered and single lichens
measure up to 38 cm in diameter); (7) Presence of very unusual and monu-mental
stone constructions at the site (see below).
Examples of monuments found in situ: (I) A large triangular shaped foun-dation
wall located in the southwest of the central hill. In 2008, remains of the
southern wall (thickness ˜ 260 cm) were still present. In May 2010, the whole
wall was dismantled. The triangular construction still can be seen on Google-
Earth (30°26'1.59"N; 9°27'28.38"W). Inside the triangle, a multitude of ruins,
stone tools and ceramic fragments were found. (II) A remarkable stone circle
complex was once located in the very center of the central area. The complex
has also been destroyed by stone grinding mills, but it still can be seen on
Google-Earth (30°26'19.35 N; 9°27'27.09 W). The circular structure had a
diameter of about 50 m and the entire complex measured 130 m x 110 m. In-side
the structure, several caverns and stone heaps are situated. In 2008, we
were able to photograph some of the last large stone plates of the central circular
structure still present at that time. In May 2010, none of these plates were
leftover. (III) Peripheral to this circular structure several megaliths which form
a small circle containing a 3 m long menhir were found. These megaliths are
surrounded by a rectangular shaped 130 cm thick wall. The menhir is tapering
towards the top and probably once stood perpendicularly (fig. 5). We assume
that the small stone circle construction was arranged next to a spring (today
almost dried up). (IV) A well preserved oval building situated in the northeast
of the central area. Once, it was a freestanding house measuring 30 m x 18 m.
Its foundation walls are 160 cm thick and up to 150 cm in height. They were
formed from massive reddish, white and small black blocks. (V) At least in
part, the central hill is surrounded by a large earth wall. Its remains are about
ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM47
5 m wide and up to 2 m in height. We estimate that its length exceeds 6 km.
Remarkably, we found pieces of a reddish plaster containing mica next to this
wall. (VI) A place with rock carvings exists inside the annular structure (fig.
6). One of the rock carvings resembles a footprint-petrosomatoglyph (fig. 11).
(VII) Long straight paths, sometimes running in parallel, exist in the area.
They strongly resemble a neolithic Cursus monument (fig. 3).
For legal reasons, we did not make any excavations in the area. Neverthe-less,
we were able to photograph many fragments of pottery, bones and pre-historic
stone tools. Selected findings were sent to the Institut National des
Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine in Rabat for further investigation.
Excerpt of findings: (I) The most remarkable finding was a fragmentary
earthenware pot containing flint tools (fig. 7, 9). At current, this pot is the
westernmost example of incised Wavy Line pottery. The distinctive Wavy
(3) Straight path/cursus; (4) Stone axe found in central area; (5) Broken menhir (3m);
(6) Stone carving; (7) Incised Wavy Line decoration on earthenware pot. The pot
contained Silex tools (fig. 9); (8) Stone evacuation; (9) Silex tools found in broken
earthenware pot; (10) Microliths found in a Køkkenmøddinger; (11) Footprint-petrosomatoglyph.
48MMALMOGAREN XLII/2011
Line pottery was first identified at Khartoum in 1944 and dates back to early
Holocene populations of North Africa. According to Edwards (2007) incised
Wavy Line pottery is found across much of Sudanic and Saharan Africa (see
also Sutton (1977)) and is some of the oldest pottery in the world, with
radiocarbon dates as early as 8000 BC. According to Abbas and Khabir
(2003), ceramics characterized by wavy line and dotted wavy line decoration,
formed a cornerstone for identifying Mesolithic-Neolithic components along
the Central Nile and across the Sahara-Sahel Belt. Moreover, they [...]
suggested a level of cultural uniformity for the Nilo-Sahara-Sahel Belt from
the eighth to the fourth millennia BC. (II) A stone axe was found in the
central area (fig. 4) (III) Several Køkkenmøddingers were found in- and
outside the annular structure as well as in nearby caves. They contain great
numbers of flints, stone tools, microliths, sea- and snail-shells (fig. 10). None
of the Køkkenmøddingers, however, was situated inside or next to pre-historic
ruins.
Unfortunately, the entire site is subject to massive destruction. The authors
spotted fresh excavations (probably illicit) and two large hydrotechnical con-structions
that date back to the 1960s. Moreover, the area is used as quarry by the
local building industry which every day is carrying away hundreds of large stones
(fig. 8). In May 2010, quarrying activity was concentrated in the Northeast of the
central area where the oval building is situated. The authors calculated that every
day 10-15 lorries full of stones are carried away from the site.
We wish to express our conviction that the settlement is worth protection
from further destruction. Moroccan and international authorities should adopt
efficient protective measures to stop stone evacuation from the site asap. An
important step could be to include the site on the List of World Heritage in Dan-ger
(in accordance with Art.11 §4 of the Convention). Fortunately we were able
to show a small part of the ensemble to Moroccan authorities in May 2010. These
authorities expressed their interest in running a university based joint Moroccan/
International investigation of the site. We would be glad to contribute to such a
cooperation by establishing a contact. Email: info@asalas.org
Literature:
Ambroggi R. (1963). Etude géologique du versant méridional du haut Atlas
Occidental et de la plaine de Souss. Notes et Mémoires du Service
Géologique du Maroc 157. 321p.
Abbas S. M. & Abdel-Rahim M. K. (2003). The Wavy Line and the Dotted
Wavy Line Pottery in the Prehistory of the Central Nile and the Sahara-
Sahel Belt. African Archaeological Review. Vol. 20, Number 1, 25-58
ALMOGAREN XLII/2011MM49
Edwards D. N. (2007). The Archaeology of Sudan and Nubia. Annual Review
of Anthropology. Vol. 36:211-228
Sutton J. (1977). The African Aqualithic. Antiquity. Vol. 51: 25-33
Usai D. & Salvatori S. (2007). The oldest representation of a Nile boat.
Antiquity. Vol. 81 / Number 314, p.21