The riddle of Mzorah

              James W. MAYOR, Jr., Woods Hole
THE RIDDLE OF MZORAH
(Contribution No. 2973 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Introduction
"For in these stones is a mystery,
and a healing virtue against many ailments.
Giants of old did carry them from the furthest ends
of Africa and did set them up in Ireland
what time they did inhabit therein."
Merlin
There stands in northwest Morocco a briefly published monument of acknowledged
great antiquity but puzzling provenance. The tumulus and peristalith of Mzorah
(Plate I, Fig. 1) are located at Latitude 35 degrees 24.59 minutes north, Longitude 5
degrees 56. 73 minutes west, elevation above sea level, 118 meters. They are
reached by travelling the road from Azilah toward Tetuan as far as the village of
Tnine-de-Sidi-el-Yemeni and then a piste five kilometers to the northeast to the
douar of Chouahed. The principal monument and other stone arrangements occupy
the open tableland within the douar. Chouahed can also be approached by piste
from the north side of the mouth of Wad el Helou. This pist is eleven kilometers in
length and passes a number of villages. It follows the ridge forming the southern
boundary of the valley of the Wad Ayacha which meanders within two kilometers of
Mzorah. As much as eight kilometers inland, the elevation of this valley above mean
sea level is but three meters.
Classical Greek and Roman writers refer to a great tomb associated with Tangier
and Lixus that was seen by Sertorius during his action in Morocco. Some say that
Antaeus, defeated by Heracles during his last labor, lies buried here.
This report presents the results of a recent study, 1969-1976. New discoveries,
an up-to-date description and detailed maps, and conclusions and hypotheses
regarding the date, origins and function of the monuments at Mzorah are provided.
Description of Mzorah Today
In April 1972, with the assistance of Si Belhoussine Drissi, Gordon Browne, Paul
Vauquier and others, the author made measurements of the stone ring surrounding
the tumulus and of the location of other monoliths in the locality. Additional
measurements were made in May of 1974. This data combined with aerial and
ground level photographs taken during four visits over a five year period resulted in
the plans of Figure 1 through 6. The accuracy of the position of individual stones in
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Figure 1 is considered to be better than one-half degree in azimuth angle and
one-quarter meter in length. The diameter measurements which delineate the shape
of the enclosure of monoliths are accurate to plus or minus 0.10 meters.
Measurements were made as follows:
1. The stone ring surrounding the tumulus.
a. Eight radial measurements from an assumed center to the mid-line of the
standing stones.
b. A perimeter measurement in 13 sectors.
c. Individual stone positions using a combination of direct measurement, aerial
photography and ground level photography.
2. Positions of many stones outside of the ring, now lying down or broken, which
were probably upright in the past.
3. In the interior of the tumulus, the positions of indicated passages and possible
cist graves.
4. Dimensions of the tumulus itself and the retaining wall within the ring of
standing stones.
The enclosure of standing stones was found to be a perfect ellipse of the following
dimensions referred to the mid-line of the stones. (Figures 1 and 4)
Major diameter oriented 70° ± 2° 59.29 meters
Minor diameter oriented 340° ± 2° 56.18 meters
Focal distance 18.95 meters
Perimeter 181.45 meters
The tumulus is constructed of small blocks o°f broken sandstone about 15
centimeters cube and is approximately five meters in height. It has been much
destroyed by excavation and quarrying. The only guide to its former appearance is
the sketch of BROOKE in Plate III. In the southeast sector where the retaining wall
is visible, the radius to the outside of this wall is 27.5 meters in the north-south
direction and 28.5 meters in the east-west direction measured from the ellipse
center. All azimuths directions are given relative to true north. The polar coordinates
of the stones are presented in Table I for those who wish to try further
mathematical analysis on the ring of stones. Figure 4 presents the best fit ellipse
from which the stones have a standard deviation of 0.021 meters which is less than
the accuracy of the stone positions. The experimental accuracy of the ellipse
orientation, ± 2° is limited by the small eccentricity of the ellipse.
Locations noted in 1880 by WATSON (1) (Fig. 7) were visited. Some stones
which had been observed by WATSON are no longer visible, but partially buried
fragments and depressions in the soil remain. A number of stones were located
which had not been recorded previously. Compare Figures 5, 6 and 7. In the interior
of the tumulus, locations of three possible cist graves were found as well as the
remains of interior passage walls. The azimuths of natural horizon foresights for
possible astronomical alignments were recorded.
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Table I Coordinates of Mzorah Ellipse to stone centers. Azimuth clockwise from true
north, radii from ellipse center.
Azimuth- degrees, radii-meters
Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad.
No. No. No. No.
1 2.5 28.4 49 96.3 29.0 97 192.8 28.2 145 298.2 29.0
2 4.8 28.6 50 99.2 29.2 98 194.9 28.6 146 300.0 29.0
3 51 102.2 29.3 99 198.0 28.6 147 301.8 28.8
4 52 104.8 29.3 100 200.4 28.8 148 304.5 28.5
5 12.1 28.2 53 106.9 29.1 101 203.0 28.9 149 306.1 28.7
6 15.1 28.1 54 108.4 29.1 102 150 308.2 28.8
7 18.0 28.3 55 110.0 29.4 103 151 310.2 28.9
8 20.0 28.3 56 111.5 29.4 104 210.1 29.2 152 312.1 28.9
9 22.5 28.4 57 113.2 29.4 105 153 314.1 28.6
10 25.0 28.6 58 115.0 29.2 106 215.1 29.1 154 316.0 28.6
11 26.8 28.7 59 116.9 29.2 107 217.6 28.9 155 318.1 28.9
12 29.6 28.9 60 118.4 29.1 108 219.9 29.4 156 320.1 28.5
13 32.4 29.0 61 120.2 29.2 109 157 321.8 28.4
14 35.0 29.1 62 122.1 28.7 110 224.0 29.5 158 324.3 28.4
15 37.6 29.1 63 124.3 28.9 111 226.4 29.4 159 326.2 28.4
16 39.4 29.6 64 126.0 28.7 112 228.4 29.6 160 323.2 28.4
17 41.9 29.6 65 127.5 28.9 113 230.4 29.6 161 330.2 28.4
18 44.5 29.7 66 130.0 28.9 114 232.9 29.8 162 333.0 28.4
19 46.5 29.7 67 131.5 28.8 115 234.8 29.8 163 335.1 28.3
20 48.1 29.8 68 133.7 28.6 116 236.8 29.6 164 337.0 28.3
21 49.9 29.8 69 136.2 28.7 117 238.5 29.4 165 339.0 28.0
22 51.0 29.8 70 138.1 28.7 118 240.2 29.4 166 341.0 28.0
23 52.8 29.8 71 139.9 28.6 119 242.0 29.2 167 343.3 27.7
24 53.7 30.3 72 141.8 28.6 120 168 345.3 27.9
25 55.0 30.2 73 143.6 28.5 121 245.8 29.4 169 347.3 28.1
26 56.3 30.2 74 145.5 28.5 122 248.1 29.4 170 349.9 28.4
27 57.5 30.2 75 147.5 28.6 123 250.0 29.6 171 351.8 28.9
28 58.5 30.3 76 149.8 28.6 124 252.1 29.2 172 353.8 28.9
29 60.0 30.3 77 152.2 28.5 125 253.9 29.2 173 356.3 28.9
30 61.2 30.3 78 154.2 28.6 126 255.2 29.4 174 358.1 28.6
31 62.5 30.2 79 156.6 28.5 127 257.5 29.4 175 0 28.5
32 63.9 30.4 80 158.9 28.6 128 259.9 29.7
33 65.2 30.0 81 161.1 28.6 129 262.6 29.7
34 67.1 30.4 82 163.0 28.6 130 265.6 29.6
35 69.0 30.1 83 164.5 28.4 131
36 70.1 30.0 84 166.2 28.4 132
37 71.8 29.8 85 167.8 28.1 133 272.9 29.4
38 73.8 29.8 86 169.0 28.4 134 275.2 29.4
39 75.2 29.8 87 170.5 28.4 135 277.9 29.6
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Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad. Stone Az Rad.
No. No. No. No.
40 77.0 29.6 88 172.5 28.4 136 279.8 29.4
41 78.7 29.4 89 174.8 28.3 137 281.6 29.2
42 79.8 29.4 90 177.1 28.3 138 283.9 29.4
43 82.8 29.5 91 179.4 28.4 139 285.8 29.3
44 85.0 29.1 92 181.2 27.9 140 287.4 29.2
45 87.0 29.4 93 183.0 28.4 141 289.6 29.2
46 89.0 29.3 94 185.4 28.3 142 291.9 29.1
47 91.5 29.3 95 187.5 28.4 143 294.1 29.1
48 93.9 29.3 96 189.8 28.4 144 296.1 29.1
BROOKE (2), who visited Mzorah in 1830 protected by a troop of cavalry, saw
no evidence of tool marks on the standing stones but yet it was felt by
TARRADELL (3) that they had been hammered and polished by the human hand
an were apparently of an unnatural shape. The reddish sandstone is known to be
friable and it is clear that large fragements of stones have broken off as part of the
weathering process even in the 40 years since the excavation of MONTALBAN.
Cesar Luis de MONTALBAN excavated the tumulus of Mzorah in 1935-36.
TARRADELL (3) asserts that no reports of his work remain. Unfortunately he
published nothing before his death and he is the only person known to have
excavated the site. However, he did leave two brief reports which have come to light
recently and are in the possession of M. Paul Vauquier of Tangier. One is a brief
description of MONTALBAN's findings which include a tomb with a skeleton to the
west of El Uted and flints from the interior of the tumulus which he considered
diferent from most found in the general area. In addition there is a sketch map. The
group of stones southwest of El Uted is labeled "Cromlech destruido." A group to
the northwest of the ellipse, probably Group D, Figure 5, is labeled, "Cromlech en
construcion." Marthe de Chambrun Ruspoli, who knew MONTALBAN, claims to
have seen a photograph of an altar supported by legs carved in the shape of sphinxes,
taken in the excavation.
A comparison of Plates I and II shows that the stones have substantially damaged
since 19 3 5. Some tall stones have been broken of, possibly numbers 119, 12 2, 124
and others (Figures 1 and 3). In the northwest quadrant, stones 150, 152, 161, 165,
168 and 171 appear to have sufered recent breakage. In the southeastern quadrant,
many stones shown intact in MONTALBAN's photograph (Plate II) are broken
today. That natural weathering did not do more damage over the centuries can be
attributed to the fact that many stones were covered with soil for most of the period
and therefore protected. The observations of BROOKE (2), 86 upright stones;
WATSON (1), 67 stones; and TISSOT (4), 40 stones, attest to this as there are
presently 168 stones in place. Stone a, in the southwest group C (Figure 6) shows
vertical striations which are commonly caused by weathering. While it cannot be said
with certainty that the shaping of the standing stones is entirely due to natural
causes, it is highly probable that they were much more nearly of the sqared form in
which the stone is naturally quarried than is the case today. The squared form of the
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stones of the retaining wall surrounding the tumulus within the ring of standing
stones, Plate IV, was cited by TARRADELL as evidence of post-neolithic date (3).
Upon close inspection, these blocks, while requiring some local hand work, are of
a shape which can be found occurring naturally in the vertically-bedded sandstone
outcrops which frequent the region. In 1969, while walking northeast of El Had not
far from the ruin of Ad Mercuri (circle in Figure 2), the author observed a
particularly prominent outcrop of this nature where lay a long stone of rectangular
section similar in size and shape to some of those found at Mzorah which clearly had
been broken loose from its bedding by natural weathering or but the slightest of
human assistance.
The nature of the geology always has a profound effect on megalithic architecture
and construction. Where there was a relatively easy method at hand, it was generally
used. In Orkney, Scotland, the spectacular circles of menhirs were built with
sandstone slabs which have strikingly flat surfaces and are regular in shape. They are
easily taken from the horizontally bedded and stratified material of which the
islands are made. Weathering has rounded the edges of the standing stones at
Mzorah. The magnificent megalithic temples of Malta are impressive in their
architecture but they are built of the soft yellow limestone of the island which in its
unweathered state can be easily carved by hand with a knife.
TARRADELL (3) noted that there are three planforms of the stones which make
up the ring, circular, oval and rectangular. However, there seems to be no
arrangement that would indicate whether or not this information contributes to
interpretation of the function of the monument. Of more importance, perhaps, are
the diferences in size, both height and planform, which form identifiable patterns.
Stone 130, named El Uted, the pointer, is the largest and most spectacular standing
stone. It is 51h meters in height and shows a nearly square plan near ground level
changing to a nearly circular plan a short distance above. This probably represents a
change of ground level relative to the stone and is evidence of weathering of the
exposed portion. Future excavation around the stones may reveal many having this
characteristic. BROOKE (2) was told of a tradition that Pharaoh, king of Egypt
made use of El Uted as a peg upon which to picket his horse. Another tradition
speaks of the great deluge when Noah sent forth a dove from the ark which first
alighted on El Uted. Stones 131 and 132 are tall pointed stones similar to El Uted
but shorter and presently lying flat. They are, apparently, next to El Uted, the
tallest in the ring. They have been nearly buried for at least the last 140 years since
BROOKE saw them (2), and do not appear to be rounded like El Uted. They appear
to be pyramidal with sharp corners. There are at present 168 stones in place most of
which are broken stubs. Figure 1 shows seven locations in which stones are
presumed to have been positioned to fill out the complete ring forming a closed
ellipse of 17 5 stones. Sixty-one of these are considered to be intact. In the
northeast, there is a curious group of smaller stones of rounded rectangular section
which are closely spaced and identical, 21-32. Stones 43-50 are large in plan and
of oval section whose top elevations follow shallow curves. Number 69, remarked on
by DAVIDSON ( 5) is cofin-shaped. Number 90, thin and long of square section is
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fallen but intact and has a pyramidal top noted by BROOKE (2) and others.
Numbers 91-100 are large in plan, domed and of circular section at the base.
The anomalous group of closely spaced stones from 21-32 in the northeast might
be explained by the need to crowd the stones to achieve a certain total number in
the ring. However, if analogy to the sophisticated works of Britain is valid, the
builders of Mzorah probably had something less simple-minded in their design. The
northeast quadrant contains 46 stones, the southeast 45, the southwest 40 and the
northwest 44.
While there is much variation in the height, shape and spacing of the stones, and a
generally irregular arrangement of the diferent planforms, it is difficult to believe
that the design is random. Before weathering took its toll, the shape diferences may
indeed have been greater.
It is likely that the removal of most of the retaining stones from around the
periphery of the tumulus was responsible for the erosion of the tumulus which
caused the monoliths to be covered and preserved. Since stones of the retaining wall.
remain in only one quadrant, the southeast, it is not possible to say whether or not
they formed an elliptical enclosure as do the standing stones. In this quadrant, most
of the standing stones have been broken off, presumably by weathering because they
were more exposed than elsewhere. Many of these stubs are today covered by dense
prickly pear hedge. We do not know the original hieght of the retaining wall or to
what extent it inhibited erosion of the tumulus.
Plate II, showing the condition of Mzorah in 1935 when it was excavated by
MONT ALBAN exhibits two walls within the tumulus oriented north-south and
east-west. There appear no remains of these walls today.
Outside of the ellipse of standing stones, there are today three principal groups of
fallen monoliths (Plate V). Group A contains three almost parallel giant stones and
one upright stub broken of at ground level (Fig. 6 ). This stub bears 270.5 degrees
from El Uted at a distance of 88 meters. Group B contains seventeen large fragments
of monoliths and is located within a low stone rectangular enclosure 23 by 20
meters oriented north-south whose center lies 35 meters due north of El Uted. This
group seems to lie on a circular arc and may have been part of another ring of
standing stones as suggested by TARRADELL (3). Some of the stones in this group,
not noted by previous observers, were probably exposed by MONTALBAN in 1935
but there is no record of it. Group C, about 35 meters south of Group A is within
the enclosed yard of one of the elders of the village of Chouahed. This again may be
part of another large ring of stones, but there is no tumulus. Here lie the largest
monoliths of the region, two fallen broken stones which must have been a full six
meters in height. One fragment has regular cup markings on its upper face, noted by
BROOKE (2), which are probably a form of weathering which is seen on many
natural outcrops in the region. They are used today to play a game called kala.
Group C contains sixteen stones visible in the clearing and untold others covered by
prickly pear hedge.
Group E, observed by WATSON (1) (Fig. 1), was due north of the ellipse center.
There remains today only a depression in the earth where the stones once stood.
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Group F, not previously reported, consists of four stubs of broken stones on a slope
to the northeast 480 meters from the center of the ellipse. It bears the same
direction from the ellipse center as an Islamic cemetery further to the northeast on
the hilltop.
Of the many single stones presented in Fig. 5, the most impressive is stone b
bearing 310 degrees 40 minutes to its southerly end from the main ring center a
distance of 110 meters. It is a giant stone and has a deep gouge which has nearly cut
it through.
In addition to the tumulus and monoliths at Mzorah, there are other ancient
constructions which may bear a relation to the megalithic sites. Around the tumulus
and four meters outside the ring of standing stones is the ruin of a low wall three
stones and 0.67 meters in width made from the same small broken pieces of
sandstone of which the tumulus is built. It extends from the southwest clockwise to
the northeast. Both ends become lost beneath prickly pear hedge. On the west,
facing the three tall stones of the ring, Nos. 130, 131 and 132, the wall opens out
into a rectangular enclosure, 23 meters in north-south dimension by ten meters in
the east-west direcktion. This enclosure is symmetrical about the east-west direction.
Twenty-six meters to the west of El Uted is a trapezoidal enclosure of the same size
stones of which the tumulus is built, largely reduced to rubble. The photographs
published by TARRADELL (3) showing the area at the time of the MONTALBAN
excavation in 1935 show this construction to have been an intact walled enclosure
of unknown utility and origin. The rectangular enclosure was entirely missing in
1935 and the low wall surrounding the tumulus which exists today was more
substantial (3). The debris from the 1935 excavation was discovered in 1972, after
an indication by aerial photography, to be located 85 meters to the southsouthwest
of the center of the ellipse.
There are remains of a level earth platform just north of the ellipse. It is an
artificially filled area, presently much eroded on the north and east sides. The west
and south sides, which can be detected clearly, are oriented approximately true
north and west. The east-west dimension is about 50 meters and the north-south
varies from 30 to 35 meters. It may be important that Kouass, excavated by
PONS I CH ( 6) includes a platform 50 meters square, also of earth, which is oriented
also north-south. It is bounded by a retaining wall, but so could the one at Mzorah
have been. The direction from Mzorah to the Kouass platform or pre-Roman camp
as PONSICH calls it, indicated in Figure 2 and 14.9 kilometers away is 340 degrees,
the orientation of the minor axis of the ellipse. Also shown in Figure 2 is a straight
line from the Mzorah ellipse to the mouth of Wad Rharifa at Kouass, along which lie
two Moslem koubbas and a cemetery.
Geometry
The most significant finding in 1972 was that the geometry of the ring of standing
stones at Mzorah established evidence of a cultural relationship between prehistoric
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Morocco and Great Britain. THOM (7) analyzed the geometry of some 400
megalithic stone rings in Great Britain and found them to have been constructed
with great precision. He found a consistent unit of length, which he named the
megalithic yard (MY), equal to 0.829 meters and a consistent practice of the
builders to use integral multiples of this unit in laying out their stone arrangements.
He suggests that the Spanish vara of 0.836 meters is descended from the megalithic
yard. The megalith builders also made frequent use of the Pythagorean right triangle
of three integral sides more than a thousand years before the Greek philosopher is
said to have codified the relationship. The right triangle used most commonly in
megalithic Briatin was that having lengths of sides in the ratio 5:4:3. The next most
common was the 37:35:12 and this is the ratio used at Mzorah. This type of
mathematical relationship can be applied to the construction of the ellipse because
the ratio of major axis to minor axis to distance between foci for an ellipse is the
same as that between the sides of a right triangle. THOM has tabulated the
dimensions of 35 ellipses in Great Britain (7) and found a statistical indication of the
way in which megalithic man compromised what he must have found to be a
frustrating law of nature. If the measurements of the diameters and focal distance of
an ellipse correspond to the sides of an integral right triangle, the perimeter cannot
be integral. He decided, according to THOM, to give priority to the integral right
triangle and altered his basic unit to 2% megalithic yards to try to make the
perimeter fit.
The only certain geometrical similarity between the Mzorah ring and those of
Great Britain is that Mzorah is an ellipse and that it is very close to a 37:35:12
ellipse. The ratio of principal dimensions is 37:35.07:11.83. The discovery of this
triangle, used to construct the elaborate array at Woodhenge, is considered by
THOM to be one of the greatest achievements of the megalithic ring builders.
Whether or not the megalithic yard of precisely 0.829 meters or some other
standard length was used in the construction of Mzorah is uncertain largely because
the size of the ellipse is large compared with the unit of length. WIERCINSKI (32)
believes that THOM's megalithic yard is to be found in Mexico at Teotihuacan on
the basis of astronomical significance of the number of megalithic yards used in the
principal dimensions of the Pyramid of the Sun, a solid structure of well fitted cut
stones. At Mzorah, no such basis has yet been discovered. Perhaps measurement of
more monuments in Morocco will reveal a unit of length. However, the Mzorah
ellipse dimensions in megalithic yards of 0.829 meters and 0.836 meters are.
2a=Major diameter
2b=Minor diameter
2c= Focal distance
Perimeter
MY=0.829 m
71.52 MY
67.77 MY
22.86 MY
218.88 MY
MY=0.836 m
70.92 MY
67.20 MY
22.67 MY
217.00 MY
The ratio a:b:c is 37:35.07:11.83 which is very close to the 37:35:12
Pythagorean right triangle ellipse. If MY = 0.836 m, the major diameter and the
perimeter are close to integral.
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An ellipse at Daviot in Scotland is similar to Mzorah in that it is also a 3 7: 3 5: 12
ellipse. It has, however, an east-west major axis and it is smaller than Mzorah by a
factor of three. Only at Stanton Drew near Bristol, England, are found ellipses which
approach the size of that at Mzorah. The largest ring at Stanton Drew is larger than
Mzorah but has not been identified as a certain ellipse (7). Thus Mzorah is the largest
certain ellipse.
Astronomy
There is much current interest in early man's preoccupation with the heavenly
bodies. He recorded great detail through a very long time, as much as 1500 years, at
the time of the megaliths. He probably had a concept of the universe consistent with
his observations. He was interested in the diurnal course of the sun, the oblique
annual motion causing the seasons, the moon's phases and regular appearance and
disappearance and eclipses of the sun and moon. The precession of the equinoxes
was known to the ancients.
THOM (7, 8) has studied the astronomical significance of the megalithic
enclosures and alignments of Britain and found many of them to have been
observatories for viewing and recording the motions of the sun, moon and stars. If
the ring of monoliths at Mzorah is truly in the megalithic tradition of the enclosures
of Great Britain, an astronomical significance to the arrangement of the stones can
be expected. Stone Number 132 marks the setting equinoctial sun within % degree
of azimuth for an observer at the center of the ellipse. This angle varies with the
changing of obliquity of the ecliptic which has decreased one-half degree from 2000
B.C. to the present date.
The north-south direction is indicated only by a line from the ellipse center to
group E (Figure 5 ). This could have been determined by noting the change in
azimuth of a circumpolar star and recording the mean, or a gnomon, perhaps one of
the larger stones, could have been used with the sun's shadow to establish north.
THOM (7) found that a star setting or rising azimuth was indicated by a slab, two
or more stones not too far apart, a circle and close outlier, or two circles. For the
sun or moon, a long alignment was required or two well separated stones, a circle
with an outlier some hundred or more meters distant or a natural foresight such as a
mountain peak identified by some simple indicator. The rising and setting azimuths
of the sun and moon were studied with great accuracy and the stars with less
precision probably because they could be seen only at night. The planets surely must
have caught the interest of early people hut it is uncertain whether or not their
motions were recorded because of the complexity of their paths.
The change in the rising and setting azimuths of the stars with epoch due to the
precession of the equinoxes can be used as a dating technique, provided the intended
star sight can be identified. By noting the azimuth of possible star setting alignments
at many sites in Britain and comparing this data with the calculated change of star
declination with epoch, THOM has dated many megalithic circles and alignments to
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the time span 2100 to 1600 B.C. with a concentration at 1800 B.C. If a number of
certain star alignments can be established at Mzorah, a means for dating the stone
arrays would be available. Most first magnitude stars were recorded in Britain and
many have substantial changes of declination with epoch. Nine of the brightest stars
shift their azimuths at rising and setting by more than one-half degree in 100 years,
so-called "fast" stars. In Britain, THOM compared these azimuths during the period
2100-1600 B.C. with recorded stone alignments and a high frequency of matching
was discovered ( 7). These stars were Aldabaran, Aley on, An tares, Arcturus, Bellatrix,
Betelgeuse, Capella, Sirius and Spica.
There is the possibility that the principal stone ring at Mzorah may have been a
giant astrolab in which the stones represent the rising and setting azimuths of stars as
viewed from the center in ancient times. If such were the case, there could hardly
have been a tumulus within it for it would have obstructed the sights.
It is postulated that the stones are arranged by size and spacing in a plan, as yet
unclear. Some stones listed in Table I have been selected as possible astronomical
markers for the setting of previously listed important Zodiacal stars at horizon
foresights.
Table II Azimuths
Stone Shape Azimuth Setting Date Constellation
Object
90 tall, cone top 177.1° Near South
130 El Uted, largest 265.6° Bellatrix 1600 B.C. Orion
131 Tall, pointed 268.0° Betelgeuse 1800 B.C. Orion
132 Tall, pointed 270.4° Aldabaran 1800 B.C. Taurus
279.8°
Set sun Equ.
136 tall Spica 1800 B.C. Taurus
145 double 298.2°
146 double 300.0° Set sun summer solstice
149 tall 306.1 ° Midwinter moonset (max. decl. of
324.3°
18.6 year cycle)
158 tall Arcturus 1800 B.C. Bootis
Group A (exist bases) 273° Aldabaran 1600 B.C.
Large stone group C 254° Antares 1400 B.C.
Stone b 312.5° Capella 1600 B.C.
30 61.2° Midsummer sunrise
47 91.2° Equinox sunrise
61-62 121.0° Midwinter sunrise
146 299.8° Midsummer sunset
132 270° Equinox sunset
118 240.2° Midwinter sunset
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An intriguing anomally in the ring is the group of small closely spaced stones in
the NE quadrant, numbers 19-31, the best preserved of which are 25-29. It is
tempting to speculate that they may record moonrise over the eastern mountains.
The moon in its 18.6 years cycle changes its rising azimuth, corrected for altitude,
from 53. 9
°
to 68.6 ° and back between stones 24 and 35. An azimuth of 54 ° is also
indicated by the alignment b-k-c-m of Figure 5. The midsummer sunrise, which
occurs at the same azimuth as moonrise in mid-cycle, appears over the eastern
mountains at an azimuth of 61.4
°
in 1800 B.C. or at stone number 30. The major
axis of the ellipse passes between stones 35 and 36 which gives added credence to a
lunar theory for the Mzorah ellipse. DIODORUS refers to the lunar cycle. He said
( 24) that Apollo visits the land of the Celts every 19 years and "dances the night
through from the vernal equinox until the rising of the Pleiades."
Of the many fallen menhirs outside the main ring, there are several which were
very large, comparable to or even larger than El Uted, when erect. These are the
three in Group A, two of Group C and stone b. They may be outlier stones with
astronomical alignments referred to the ellipse as suggested in Table II or they may
be parts of independent complexes as implied by WATSON's map of 1880
(Figure 7).
In Table II it can be seen that all of the listed "fast" stars are present except for
Sirius and give dates of 1400 to 1800 B.C. If the astronomical alignments postulated
are valid, then the ring appears to be dated in this period. In addition to the
alignments postulated, there are many possibilities, in fact there are so many stones
in the ellipse that, within the measurement accuracy and limit of confidence in
original locations of the stones, any further suggestion of alignments of individual
stones is inconclusive.
The major axis of the Mzorah ellipse aims at the summit of Jbel Si Habib, the
largest mountain on the horizon. This may relate to the orientation of a large
elongated tumulus in the Rharb of Morocco near Lalla-Mimouna, some 50 kilo­meters
south of Mzorah where the alignment points to the summit of Jbel Sarsar,
the only mountain on the horizon. At the equinox, the sunrise is spectacular, its
lower limb tangent to the summet 23 kilometers away (33 ).
The number of stones in the ellipse, 175, may be related to the 173 days between
the times of year when eclipses are possible, when the earth, sun and moon are in
line, or to six lunar months which total 1 77 days.
The Egyptians controlled their calendar by observing heliacal and acronical
sightings of certain stars. A heliacal sighting occurs when a star is seen near the
horizon at the same azimuth as the sun's rising or setting. When the star is opposite
the sun, the sighting is called acronical. Twilight reduces the contrast between the
star and the sky background and the typically long twilight of northern latitudes
made this method unsuited to Britain according to THOM (7). However, heliacal and
acronical behavior of the Pleiades is considered by WINKLER ( 9) to have been the
signal to the Celts of Britain and other northern European people to mark their fall
and spring festivals 2000 years ago. The coincidence of heliacal and acronical
sightings of the Pleiades with the vernal and autumnal equinoxes respectively
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occurred at the latitude of Morocco in 1700-1500 B.C. and is repeated on a cycle
of 26,000 years. The event would have been spectacular and added to the
significance of the equinoctial sun or east-west azimuth. This was possibly signalled
by stone 132 and outlying Group A at Mzorah.
THOM ( 7) found a megalithic calendar based on division of the solar year into
two equal parts, the tropical half-year of 182-5/8 days, by the equinoxes. He found
evidence for a sixteen "month" year, each "month" having 22, 23 or 24 days. The
beginning of each "month" was marked by a stone alignment corresponding to a
solar rising or setting. The azimuths of solar rising or setting oscillate with the
passage of time between the winter and summer solstices. The equinox marked by
east-west is the midpoint of this oscillation. In spite of generally irregular patterns of
arrangements of stones around the Mzorah ellipse, the spacing between the solstice
azimuths is quite regular. If each stone were considered to represent five days, the
sixteen month solar calendar of THOM could be identified with the stones of
Mzorah. (See Tables I and II.)
THOM's work (7) on British stone rings is circumstantial evidence that Mzorah
probably has astronomical significance. It is worthwhile, therefore to pursue this
possibility with more accurate measurements, more comprehensive numerical
analysis and excavation around the stones to establish accurate original positions and
to locate missing stones.
Megalithic rings have been found to have geometrical and astronomical sophistica­tion
so far only in Britain and Ireland (THOM, (7), HAWKINS (10)). Megalithic
alignments in Great Britain and Brittany have been studied by Thom and shown to
have a similar character.
Standing stone enclosures not yet shown to be of geometrical or astronomical
interest are found in many parts of the world, in some cases enclosing tumuli as in
Algeria. They are sometimes free-standing as at Peshawer, Pakestan, Tay Ayeh near
Dayabger, Iran and in India (11).
The Megalithic Menhirs of Mzorah, part of the megalithic tradition of the second
millenium, B.C.
The standing stones of Mzorah can be classed as true menhirs of the European
megalithic tradition. It has been pointed out that the ring of standing stones is in the
form of a perfect ellipse having the same proportions as several in Great Britain. The
dimensions may make use of the same unit of length used in prehistoric Britain or
Iberia. THOM has shown by astronomical dating that all megalithic circles, ellipses
and alignments in Britain were built between 2100 and 1600 B.C. and postulated
alignments at Mzorah are consistent with this. REYGASSE (12) believes that the age
of the Mzorah monument appears related to the true European stone circles.
The tumulus, however, is similar in architecture and construction to other
sepulchral tumuli in North Africa considered to have been built during the first
millenium B.C. The nearest published similar tumulus is located at Souk el-Gour
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near Meknes ( 13, 14). It is large and double-tiered with two concentric reta1mng
walls. Since most of the stones making up the wall around the tumulus of Mzorah
have been removed, probably because they make convenient building blocks, used in
preference to the menhirs, it might be concluded that there could have been a
second tier of stones as at Souk el-Gour. This is not out of the question, though
nothing can be seen today of the remains of such a second wall without further
excavation.
The question arises whether or not the ring of menhirs was built and used
contemporaneously with the tumulus, which probably was sepulchral. In Scotland,
the Clava cairns which are sepulchral, tumuli bounded by retaining walls of upright
stones are surrounded by rings of menhirs at some distance from the tumuli which
were apparently roughly contemporary. However, the ellipse of Mzorah was
probably laid out before the tumulus was built because it is dificult to conceive of
how the ellipse could have been constructed with the tumulus in place. The
construction of the ellipse could have been accomplished with stakes at the foci with
a rope fastened one end at each stake and a scribing rod allowed to run within the
stretched rope. We can speculate that the ring of standing stones of Mzorah may
have been built hundreds of years before the tumulus because it is apparently
associated with a cultural tradition which existed in Britain in the early second
millenium B.C. whereas the tumulus is associated with a tradition usually dated to
the first millenium B.C. or later. The ring of menhirs was built, used and had
geometrical and astronomical importance to the community. With the passage of
time, its origins and function may have been forgotten but it remained a holy place
as it is today. We might speculate that the time came to build a tomb worthy of a
great Berber king. What more suitable place would have been selected for his burial
than the hallowed ground at Mzorah?
Phoenecian settlement of the Atlantic coast of Morocco is dated 800 B.C. followed
by the Punico-Mauretanian in which Kouass was reported to have been settled (21).
PONOSCH recognizes a pre-Phoenecian northern Moroccan Bronze Age which de
dates with Early Bronze or Childe's Bronze II (21), exemplified by the Argaric
culture of 1500 to 1400 B.C. (22). This is the same culture as that associated with
the rupestral carvings of men and halberds at l'Oukaimeden in the High Atals ( 14).
In Morocco, the Bronze Age is indicated by weapons of Bronze and Bell Beaker
pottery excavated in megalithic cist graves near Tangier. But Bell Beakers, found
throughout Europe, are universally dated to a period of a few centuries about 1800
B.C. during the Early Bronze Age. Colonization between North Africa and Spain
goes back at least to 3000 B.C. when people of the Capsian Neolithic of the Maghreb
migrated to Almeda (22). The Spanish Bronze Age apparently started at Almeda
introduced by prospectors from the east. Presumably the rather poor Bronze Age in
Morocco was introduced from Almeda near the end of this cultural phase or from El
Argar. There was evidently much trafic across the straits in prehistoric times and
Camps (14) maintains that navigators during the Bronze Age were true mariners of
extensive influence. It has been established that they travelled the coast from the
Mediterranean to northern Europe (22).
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A date for the menhirs of Mzorah during the Early Bronze Age is not
unreasonable, at a time when the megalithic idea was widespread in the form of
enclosures and tombs and the Beaker people were a dominant culture.
Physical Anthropology of the Riffian Berber
Coon ( 15) gained a strong impression that the Rifian Berber people have northern
European origins on the basis of physical anthropology. By comparing eye color,
hair color and head, face and other body measurements, he found striking
similarities between the people of the Rif and those of England, Scotland and
Scandinavia. He also found distinct diferences between the Rifians and the people
of the neighboring Mediterranean lands. The Beni Amart people were considered
equivalent to a blond fishing village population on the east coast of England. In
addition, the Rifian Berbers are associated with the most red-haired people in the
world, the British of Celtic tradition.
This possible association of the ancient people of Morocco with those of the
north is supported by the finding of an architectural geometry at Mzorah in
Morocco and elsewhere uniquely in Great Britain.
The Estuaries of Prehistoric Morocco
Many of the rings of menhirs of Britain are located at the heads of navigable
estuaries from Callenish in the Outer Hebrides to Stanton Drew near the Bristol
Channel. This is not surprising if the megalithic idea was introduced by maritime
adventurers.
Is there evidence that Mzorah also was accessible from the sea by water? Today it
lies ten kilometers up a valley with but a meandering stream to connect it with the
ocean.
Three themes dominate the efects of man and nature on the landscape of the
Mediterranean and Atlantic Moroccan coasts and all support the existence of more
extensive navigable estuaries in the second and first millenia B.C. than today. They
are the historical report of forestation and therefore greater alluvial deposition in
our era than previously, the evidence of higher sea level in pre-Roman times than at
present and the evidence of high rates of alluvial deposition.
Classical authors leave the general impression that the Mediterranean lands were
more densely wooded than they are today and that many areas had intact forest
cover as late as 500 B.C. While devegetation is as ancient as man, most which has
been caused by man appears to have occurred during the past 2500 years.
Both STRABO ( 16) and PLINY ( 1 7) say that in their time, the beginning of our
era, northern Morocco was covered with forests of large trees, enjoyed a lush
vegetation and was populated by tropical and steppe animals such as the lion,
antelope, elephant and bufalo. It can be inferred that the major denudation of the
foliage of the rolling hills and coastal plains of northern Morocco took place during
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and after Roman times and that substantial amounts of alluvium have covered
former estuaries creating today's tidal flats and filled-in river valleys which were
formerly navigable.
STEARNS (18) has reconstructed a sea level and climatic sequence in the Cape
Ashakar region. The Neolithic period, 4000 B.C. to the beginning .of our era, was a
time of warmer climate than today and sea level two meters higher. Since then the
sea level has fallen slightly and then risen to its present level accompanied by cooling
and moisture as the sea level fell. Borings in the mouth of Wad Mogaga show
alluvium at least 40 meters thick which accompanied a change in sea level from
minus 40 meters to the present during the post glacial period. This would infer a
mean deposition rate of several meters per millenium which would have been
accelerated during the present era. STEARNS concluded that all the river valleys of
northern Morocco have thick alluvium including Wad Garifa (Wad Ayacha) which
leads to Mzorah.
In Anatolia, historical records in the writings of classical Greece confirm the
extent of aggradation in former estuaries which continues apace today. The Sakarya
delta has extended a mile in 2000 years ( 19 ). The Adapazari plain has been drilled
through recent alluvium to a depth of over 200 feet. Miletus was an important port
of classical Anatolia and its harbor sheltered a large fleet of ships. Today it lies eight
miles inland.
In the banks of the Wad Sebu in Morocco, Roman sherds have been found under
five meters of alluvium which VITA-FINZI (20) considers was deposited by a
"Rharbian" pluvial in historic times. Punic sherds have been found under nine
meters of deposition at Banassa. At Wad Martin west of Tetuan, the plain has
trenched to a depth of five meters through the Rharbian alluvium. The Mahacen
near Larache similarly has at least five meters of fill covering part of the ruins of
Lixus. Thus there is ample evidence for heavy Wad aggradation in Morocco since
Punic times.
I believe that the rivers and flood plains of northern Morocco were navigable in
most seasons for tens of kilometers inland. In fact, the marine aspect of the country
was probably quite different from what it is today. It may well have been a more
inviting coast line for the mariner than the present continuous sand beach with
narrow and treacherous inlets.
Having, since ancient times, gradually been filled with alluvium from the
bordering hills and more distant Rif mountains, it is likely that the Wad Ayacha was
navigable by ship almost to Mzorah at the date the monument was built and in use.
The ancient settlement of Kouass, excavated by PONSICH ( 6) is at the mouth of the
river. At Kouass, alongside the coast highway, is an ancient horizontal platform built
up from the surrounding field with retaining walls. It is 4 7 meters square and one
edge bears 265.8 degrees. PONISCH calls it a pre-Roman camp. Inland of the highway
nearby, PONISCH excavated a neolithic town, Fours. It is possible that the ancient
settlement at Kouass had some relationship with the monuments at Mzorah. Perhaps
an edifice upon the platform, which could be seen from Mzorah, signalled to sea
voyagers the entrance to the estuary or river up which was to be found the holy place.
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The Relevance of the Ancient Writings
PINDAR and later writers identify Antaeus, King of Libya, who was killed in battle
by Heracles. Antaeus, a giant, associated in myth with Tangier and Lucus, was said to
have been buried in a large tomb near these cities. PLUTARCH reports that
Sertorius saw Antaeus' tomb and excavated it. He was informed that the tomb was
that of an ancient and forgotten mythological person.
Because Mzorah is an impressive monument and unique in North Morocco, it is
likely that the garbled stories are basically true and relate to a prehistoric time when
foreigners came from the east and subjugated the native people. GEOFFREY OF
MONMOUTH wrote of the founding of Britain by Trojans who, on the way, landed
in Morocco and harried the entire land. This echoes the myth of Antaeus and
Heracles. GEOFFREY's provocative statement that the stones of Britain and
Ireland's stone circles came from Africa implies at least a cultural difusion.
Appendix I quotes from and summarizes the ancient and medieval texts.
Conclusions
The tumulus of Mzorah, taken alone, is architecturally similar to the large bazina of
Souk el-Gour and other North African sepulchral tumuli. It is simpler in design than
the great sepulchral monuments such as the Tomb of the Christian and El Madracen.
On the other hand, it is larger and more complex than the many smaller tumuli of
North Africa. All other North African tumuli or tombs known to be surrounded by
a few standing stones such as the Cromlech d'Ouisert, the Dolmen de Ras-el-Ain Bou
Merzoug, and the Dolmen sur socle de Sigus are considerably smaller and probably,
though not necessarily, of cruder design. The tumulus was probably the sepulchre of
a native Moroccan prince or king who lived during a time of early contact between
the indigenous people and foreigners from the eastern Mediterranean as remembered
by the story of Antaeus and Heracles (Appendix I).
The ellipse of standing stones may have been built somewhat earlier than the
tumulus and by its complex and specific geometry indicates cultural ties between
the people of Morocco and Britain in prehistoric times. The ellipses and other
geometrical figures of standing stones in Britain have been dated astronomically by
THOM (7) to 2100-1600 B.C. Thus it is possible that the Mzorah ellipse could have
been built during the second millenium B.C. or earlier. As shown by the tombs and
stone rings of Britain, a Neolithic or Bronze Age culture was quite capable of the
technology required to build the tumulus and stone rings of Mzorah. That there was
much coming and going of people, goods and ideas between the lands bordering the
Mediterranean and northern Europe in the Bronze Age is acknowledged. The present
evidence shows the involvement of the Maghreb in this traffic.
Pre-Roman Morocco had more navigable rivers and estuaries than is the case
today. This would have made the Atlantic coast more attractive for maritime
settlement and commerce. Mzorah at the head of a navigable estuary was located
suitably for use by a seagoing people.
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There was a complex of several rings of menhirs on the ridge at Mzorah in
prehistoric times. It was considered a holy place, which is the meaning of the name,
Mzorah.
Acknowledgements
The investigation of Mzorah would not have been possible without the hospitality
and friendship of Eleanor and Gordon Browne, American residents of Tangier. Mde.
Yvonne Gallet provided and piloted the aircraft during the aerial survey of October
1970 for which the author is most grateful. The firm of George Gallet loaned the
author surveying instruments in 1972 and provided access to stereo aerial photos for
mapping the stones of Mzorah. Members of the Societe pour l'histoire et archeologie
de Tanger including Paul and Yvonne Vauquier, Giovanni DaCosta, Michael Scott,
Abdulaziz Erkaina and the Brownes have assisted in many ways over six years in the
investigation. My wife, Mary H. Maver has contributed to the field work and library
research and provided essential historical insight and encouragement. My daughter,
Salley H. Maver, performed much of the photographic processing.
Si Belhoussine Drissi, Inspecteur de Monuments Historique et les Antiquities de
Maroc, was most helpful in his participation in the field work of 1972, in providing
oficial access to the monuments at Mzorah and elsewhere and in providing
encouragement to write this paper and work toward restoration of the important
antiquity at Mzorah.
Appendix I
Possible early references to Mzorah in the literature
The writings of classical Greece and Rome refer to a great tomb in northern
Morocco and the writings of medieval England cite cultural ties between Great
Britain and North Africa and Troy in prehistoric times.
Pindar, 518-438 B.C. (23), tells of the defeat of the giant Antaeus, king of Libya
(Africa), by Heracles. Gaius Curio, landing on the North African coast between the
ruins of Carthage and Clypia, proceeded inland to where the river Bagada extended
into the sandy wasteland. He found a rocky hill pitted with caves traditionally
known as the tomb of Antaeus. The story of Heracles and Antaeus was given to him
by an untaught peasant of the region who had the story handed down from father to
son for many generations. Heracles travelled from Thebes, the city of Cadmus, to
the home of Antaeus in corn-bearing Libya to wrestle with him and stay him from
roofing Poseidon's temple with the skulls of strangers. After a desperate struggle in
which Antaeus renewed his strength every time he touched the ground, Heracles
slew the giant ( 23).
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Diodorus of Sicily, first century B.C., (24 ), states that Heracles set sail from Crete
and put in at Libya where he challenged Antaeus to a fight and slew him. After this,
Heracles subdued Libya, which was full of animals, and brought large parts of the
adjoining desert under cultivation. After Heracles had slain Antaeus, he went to
Egypt and put to death Buciris, king of the land, who made it a practice to kill the
strangers who came to his country. Afterward, Heracles set up the pillars near
Gadiera to commemorate his campaigns. Diodorus states (25) that Heracles' last
labor took him again to Libya to bring back the golden apples of the Hesperides
guarded by a formidable dragon. Diodorus is inconsistent as, a little further on (25 ),
he states that Heracles while engaged in the performance of his last lab or slew, in
Libya, Antaeus.
Lucan, A. D. 39-65 (26) echoed Pindar. He expanded on Clupia or Clypia which
was originally called Aspis, a city on a promontory in the northeast of the
Carthaginian territory. It is presently called Klibiah. This is the location where
Heracles is said to have landed in his expedition against Antaeus. Lucan recites that
antiquity has named the realms of Antaeus the hills and rocks of Clypia. Strabo ( 16)
mentions this mountain chain as the tomb of Antaeus and describes it as extending
many hundreds of miles from Tingitana in Mauretania to the vicinity of Utica.
Strabo, 66 B.C.-A.D. 24 ( 16) describes Africa and cites Gabinius the Roman
historian who spoke of a sepulchre of Antaeus at Lynx (Lixus) and a skeleton of
20 meters in length which Sertorius exposed and afterward covered with earth.
Graves, (27) reports that some say that the conflict between Heracles and Antaeus
took place at Lixus where a hillock is shown as Antaeus tomb. If a few baskets of
soil are taken from this hillock, the natives believe, rain will continue to fall until
they are replaced. It is also claimed that the gardens of the Hesperides were the
nearby island on which stands an altar of Heracles. It is said locally that Antaeus
founded Tangier formerly called Tingis. Graves (27) in discussing the labor of
Heracles in retrieving the golden apples comments that Heracles rescued the
daughters of Atlas and that Atlas in gratitude taught him astronomy, Atlas being the
first astronomer. Graves comments that Antaeus' bones were probably those of a
stranded whale about which a legend grew at Tangier.
Plutarch, A.O. 45-120. (28) wrote that it was said that near Lixus there existed a
great tomb that measures 60 cubits long where the cadaver of a huge mythological
person was buried who according to the legend died at the hands of Heracles. The
location is quite vague.
They say that it was seen by Sertorius in the time when he was in disgrace in
Rome and the split of Pompeii and before his action in Spain and in Northwest
Africa.
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Pliny (Caius Plinius Secundus) A. D. 23-79, (17) reported that Tingi was said to
have been derived from Ting, wife of Antaeus the giant. His tomb which formed a
hill in the shape of a man stretched out at full length was shown near the town of
Tingis to a late period. It was also believed that whenever a portion of the earth
covering the body was taken away, it rained until the hole was filled up again.
Sertorius is said to have dug away a portion of the hill. Upon discovering a skeleton
60 cubits in length he was struck by horror and it was immediately covered again.
Procopius says that the fortress of this place was built by the Canannites who were
driven by the Jews out of Palestine. At Lixus was the palace of Antaeus, and was the
scene of his combat with Heracles and here were the gardens of the Hesperides. Pliny
says that Lixus was the subject of many wondrous fables, incredulous in his opinion.
He noted that an arm of the sea flows into the land here with a serpentine channel,
and from the nature of the locality this was interpreted at the present day (Pliny's
day) as having been what was represented by the story of the dragon keeping guard.
The concensus of the ancient writings identifies Antaeus, a contemporary of
Heracles who was buried in a giant tomb. Antaeus is associated with both Lixus and
Tangier. The tumulus of Mzorah is the only large sepulchral tumulus known in the
locality and lies midway between Tangier and Lixus.
Geofrey of Monmouth, A.D. 1100-1155, is credited, it must be admitted, with
considerable literary license in his work. Nevertheless, one must expect kernels of
truth in his accounts as well. He writes of the settlement of Britain by people from
Troy who had migrated by way of North Africa in a prehistoric epoch.
Brute (after whom Britain is said to have been named), a native of Italy settled by
Trojans, fell in with Trojans in bondage in Greece and became one of them. He led
them out of bondage by defeating the King of Greece in battle. The Greeks of this
time were called Danai. The Trojans with Brute left Greece in 314 ships. Brute
married Innogen, daughter of Pandrasus, King of Greece. They sailed to an island
called Leogecia which was uninhabited, three hundred men went ashore. They came
to a certain deserted city where they found a temple of Diana in which was an image
of the goddess that gave responses. Brute went to the place and set up three altars to
Jove, Mercury and Diana. He asked where his people should settle. He repeated this
nine times, walked four times around the altar, poured wine on the hearth, lay down
on the fell of a hind and after invoking slumber fell asleep. In a dream it came to
him,
"Brute, past the realms of Gaul, beneath the sunset
Lieth an island, girt about by ocean,
Guarded by ocean-erst the haunt of giants,
Desert of late, and meet for this thy people.
Seek it for there is thine abode forever.
There by thy sons again shall Troy be builded
There of thy blood shall kings be born, hereafter
Sovran in every land the wide world over."
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They sailed west and after a run of thirty days made the coast of Africa, still not
knowing in which direction to steer their ships. They came to the Altars of the
Phileni and the lake of the salt-pans. Then they steered betwixt Ruscicada and the
mountains Azarae. They travelled to the mouth of the river Malva and past it to
Mauretania. They harried the whole region from end to end. After revictualling they
made sail for the columns of Heracles, where they saw many of the monsters of the
deep called sirens. They escaped and came to the Tyrrhene sea where they found
nigh the shore four generations born of the exiles from Troy. There they picked up
Corineus (after whom was named Cornwall) and his people. Then they came to
Aquitaine. There they fought and won battles but finally being outnumbered by the
local people left and sailed to Britain where they landed at Totnes. In Britain they
defeated the giants and settled. The giants were few and easily dominated. (29)
Geofrey ( 30) tells also a story of the megalithic stone circles of Ireland and
Britain and reports that they came from Africa.
"If thou be fain to grace the burial-place of these men with a work that shall
endure forever, send for the Dance of the Giants that is in Killare, a mountain in
Ireland. For a structure of stones is there that none of this age could arise save his
wit were strong enough to carry his art. For the stones be big, nor is there stone
anywhere of more virtue, and, so they be set up round this plot in a circle, even as
they be now there set up, here shall they stand forever."
"For in these stones is a mystery, and a healing virtue against many ailments.
Giants of old did carry them from the furthest ends of Africa and did set them up in
Ireland what time they did inhabit therein."
"At last they made choice of Uther Pendragon, the king's brother, with fifteen
thousand men, to attend to this business. They also made choice of Merlin ... Then
as soon as the ships are ready, they put to sea and made for Ireland with a
prosperous gale."
"At that time Gilloman was king in Ireland ... Are the stones of Ireland any
better than those of Britain that our kingdom should thus be challenged to fight for
them? Arm yourselves, men and defend your country, for never while life is in me
shall they carry of from us the very smallest stone of the dance."
"When they had won the day they pressed forward to Mount Killare, and when
they reached the structure of stones rejoiced and marvelled greatly."
"He bade Merlin set up the stones that he had brought from Ireland around the
burial place ... Merlin accordingly obeyed his ordinance, and set them up about the
compass of the burial-ground in such wise as they stood upon Mount Killare in
Ireland, and proved yet once again how skill surpasseth strength."
108
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REFERENCES
1. WATSON, Robert S. A Visit To Wazan, Macmillan, London 1880
2. BROOKE, Arthur De Capell, Sketches In Spain And Morocco, Vol II, Colburn & Bentley
1831
3. TARRADELL, Miguel M. El tumulo de Mezora (Marruecos), Archivo de Prehistoria
Levantina, Vol III, Valencia 19 52
4. TISSOT, Charles, Geographie comparee de la Mauretanie Tingitane, Paris 1878.
5. DAVIDSON, John, African Journal 1835-36, Private Printing 1839
6. PONSICH, Michel, Kouass, port antique et carreform des voies de la Tingitane, Centre
National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 1970
7. THOM, Alexander, Megalithic Sites in Britain, Oxford 196 7
8. THOM, Alexander, Megalithic Lunar Observatories, Oxford 1971
9. WINKLER, Louis, Astronomically Determined Dates and Alignments American Journal of
Physics, Vol 40/1,Jan. 1972
10. HAWKINS, Gerald S. Stonehenge Decoded, Doubleday, New York 1965.
11. FERGUSSON, James, Rude Stone Monuments in All Countries, John Murray, London 1872.
12. REY GASSE, M., Monuments funeraires preislamiques de l'Afrique du nord. p. 13, Paris
13. JODIN, Andre, The Dating of Mausoleum Souk-el-Gour, Bulletin D'Archeologie Marocaine,
Tome VII, Rabat 1967
14. CAMPS, Gabriel, Monuments et Rites Funeraires Protohistoriques, Arts et Metiers Graphi­ques,
Paris 1961
15. COON, Carleton S., Tribes of The Rif, Harvard African Studies, Vol IX, Peabody Museum
1931
16. STRABO, Chapter III Africa, Casaub. 828, B XVII. C. III 8
17. PLINY ( Caius Plinius Secundus), Bostock & Riley London 1860
18. STEARNS, Charles E. in Howe, Bruce, The Paleolithic of Tangier, Morocco. Peabody
Museum, Cambridge, Mass. 1967
19. RUSSELL, R. J., Alluvial Morphology of Anatolian Rivers, Annals of the Association of
American Geographers, Vol XLIV No. 4, December 1954.
20. VITA-FINZI, C., The Mediterranean Valleys, Cambridge 1969
21. PONSICH, Michel, Recherche Archeologiques a Tanger et dans sa Region, Centre National de
la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 1970
22. CHILDE, V. Gordon, The Dawn of European Civilization, Knopf, New York 1967.
23. PINDAR, Isthmian Odes IV, 582-660, 52-5
24. DIODORUS OF SICILY, Book IV, 17. 3.-18. 4
25. DIODORUS OF SICILY, Book IV, 26. 1.-27. 4
26. LUCAN, Pharsalia, Book IV, 577-681
27. GRAVES, Robert, The Greek Myths, Voll II Penguin, Baltimore 1955
28. PLUTARCH, Sertorius
29. GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, History of The Kings of Britain, Book I, Sebastian Evans
Translation, E. P. Dutton, New York 19 5 8
30. GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, History of The Kings of Britain, Book VIII, Sebastian Evans
Translation, E. P. Dutton, New York 1958
31. HOOKER, Joseph D. and John BALL, A Tour in Morocco, Macmillan, London 1878
32. WIERCINSKI, A., "Megalithic Yard in Teotihuacan? ", Almogaren V-VI / 1974-75, Graz
1976
33. MAVOR, J. W., Jr., "The Long Barrows of Lalla-Mimouna," Unpublished manuscript 1976
109
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
ABSTRACT
The tumulus and rings of standing stones at Mzorah in Morocco are of puzzling
provenance. Measurements show that the principal ring is a precise ellipse of
proportions and possible of dimensional units found heretofore only in Great Britain
dated to the early second millenium B.C. and possibly earlier. It is furthermore the
largest certain megalithic ellipse yet reported, consisting of 175 closely spaced
menhirs. Astronomical and calendrical significance is strongly suggested but not
conclusive. Aggradation of the river valley leading to Mzorah and change in sea level
indicate that there was probably a navigable estuary leading to the monument in
pre-Roman times which may have related to important sea voyages.
The possibility of a Bronze Age date for the Mzorah ellipse is examined and
cultural ties between Morocco and Britain in prehistoric times are inferred. Ancient
and medieval texts are cited which possibly relate to the monument and its cultural
affinities with the east and north.
Submitted August 25, 1976
110
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• Jnt•ct Me11tir
0 St"'Ol<en M•,hir
􀀁􀄠 Falen /1/􀀟􁽮n/,ir
flZJ R􀀠􂀠 tTa,Ain􀀡􂄠 Mia II
30 ftlenhir Numl,er
0 '''"
Fig. 1: The Ellipse of Menhirs and Tumulus of Mzorah, Plan view.
111
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
112
0 , z
S<-ale
-
"
3 Km.
•
r,,ne dt!
s􀀊􀨠 el Yanr11t1ti
,,.,
Fig. 2: Map of region of Mzorah near Azilah, Morocco.
_.e
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
8 I11tacr Menliir
o Bralc􀀰􃁮n MHtltir
= Fo/l􀀔􁑮n Mbthir ( as iF <!􀀕􁕥et}
Fig. 3: Profile view of stones as seen from center of ring looking out.
160
Tfio
. '1-10
r I s, - ,,. jJ
___ _ Major !)t"omel:􀀱􃅲r +- 59.29 Met-er.s
• - Tz0
lo
60
Fig. 4: Ellipse fit to menhir centers.
-f.o _
113
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114
I
I
m •
I • ••
c • Groupe D
I I •
• i
Groupe F
Echelle
0 50m
Fig. 5: Megalithic remains at Mzorah.
i'
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
f--'
f--'
(./1
•
•
•
•
•
}..,.
•
d
-\&? ••
• ,... a
•
f g
•
􀀁􀄠
Echel le
0 25
h ••
Fig. 6: Western groups of stones at Mzorah.
El Uted
•
50 m
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
116
PLAN or
EL UTED.
._? _-.1.-:;j-.:.-J􀀎􀸀􀀏􀼀􀀐􁀀􀀑􁄭---􀀒􁈀􀀓􁌠 􀀆􀙲r-_;;o r*•
w +-'
I
I
Cottage and Garden.
•r•
.. ,,.
. 􀀅􀔮.􀀆􀘠
.....
Principal Group.
Cactus Hedge and Cottage.
.
•
Fig. 7: Watson's map of stones at Mzorah, 1880.
••
•
••
•
•
•
Cottage
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
117
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
,....
,.
00
Plate II: Aerial photograph of Mzorah at tlie time of the Montalban excavation, 1935,
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
,....
N
0
Plate IV: Photograph of south portion of ellipse and retaining wall, 1972, (Mavor)
© Del documento, los autores. Digitalización realizada por ULPGC. Biblioteca, 2017
f--'
N
f-' Plate V: Aerial photograph of Mzorah showing groups, 1970, (Mavor)
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