Archaeologists Uncover 5,000-Year-Old City, Changes Everything We Thought We Knew!
Archaeologists uncover a colossal Neolithic farming complex in Morocco, forcing experts to reconsider ancient Mediterranean civilizations. 🌐 #News #Lifestyle #History #Archaeology
ST. PAUL, MN – A groundbreaking discovery in Morocco has forced archaeologists to rethink the origins of complex Mediterranean societies. The unveiling of a massive Neolithic farming complex, rivaling the size of Bronze Age Troy, paints a vivid picture of North Africa’s crucial role in shaping the ancient world.
Ancient African Metropolis Rivals Bronze Age Troy
This newly uncovered site, nestled along the Oued Beht (Baht River) in Morocco’s Khémisset province, dates back to 3400-2900 B.C. It stands as the earliest and largest agricultural settlement found in Africa west of Egypt, challenging long-held assumptions about the region’s prehistoric significance.
Professor Cyprian Broodbank from the University of Cambridge, who led the study published in Antiquity, expressed his long-standing belief that Mediterranean archaeology had overlooked a critical piece of the puzzle in North Africa. This discovery now provides concrete evidence to support his theory, opening new avenues for understanding the dynamic interactions between African and European societies in antiquity.
The research team, which included experts from Morocco’s National Institute of Sciences of Archaeology and Heritage and the Italian Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences, conducted extensive fieldwork at the Oued Beht site. Their goal was to uncover evidence of the Maghreb region’s importance in Mediterranean development between 4000 and 1000 B.C., a period where its influence was previously underestimated.
Buried Treasures Reveal Intercontinental Trade Networks
The Maghreb’s strategic location, with its Mediterranean climate and proximity to Europe, made it an ideal hub for cultural exchange and development. The team’s findings at Oued Beht have now confirmed this hypothesis, revealing a wealth of artifacts including pottery, stone tools, and unprecedented remains of domesticated plants and animals.
One of the most striking features of the site was the presence of deep storage pits, similar to those found in contemporary Iberian settlements. These pits contained ivory and ostrich egg fragments, hinting at the extensive trade networks that linked Africa and Europe during this period.
The researchers emphasize that Oued Beht represents a distinctly African-based community that played a substantial role in shaping the social landscape of the Mediterranean-Atlantic region. This discovery not only fills a significant gap in our understanding of Mediterranean prehistory but also highlights the need for more extensive archaeological investigations in North Africa.
Rewriting History: North Africa’s Forgotten Legacy
As we continue to unravel the complex tapestry of ancient civilizations, the Oued Beht site serves as a powerful reminder of Africa’s often overlooked contributions to the emergence of complex societies in the Mediterranean world.
This revelation promises to reshape our understanding of intercontinental connections and cultural developments in prehistoric times, placing North Africa firmly at the center of this fascinating historical narrative.
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