Monday, April 24, 2006

Morocco excavates Copper Age remains


Archaeological excavations in Khemisset (50km east of Rabat) have led to the discovery of archaeological remains that date back to the Copper Age and most particularly to the Campaniform civilization (3000-1800 B.C).

The discovery of Copper Age housing constructions, graves and furniture remains in the cave of Ifri N'Amer Ou Moussa is a first of the kind in Morocco's archaeological research history. According to the Ministry of Culture, "It gives the ground to enrich our knowledge about the culture of Copper Age period in Morocco." The Ministry added that the exceptional aspect of the cave has gained importance by the discovery of a human skeleton buried in a funerary structure.

Archaeologists also found several metallic objects notably bony items (a needle eye) and some campaniform fragments of ceramics, in addition to objects that were made by the first civilised men, representatives of the campaniform civilisation, which till now had not been discovered in Morocco.

The research has been carried out since early April by the Rabat-based National Institute of Science, Archaeology and Heritage (INSAP). Ifri N’Amer ou Moussa is a 20m-wide, 14.50m-deep and 17.50m-long cave. It is located some 100m south of the Souk Sebt cave.


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