Archaeology, a fascinating field that invites us to travel through time by discovering the remains of the past, sometimes has extraordinary surprises in store for us. This is the case of the recent discovery of the archaeological site of Oued Beht in Morocco, documented in the journal “Fatshimetrie”, which has shaken up our knowledge of ancient agriculture in Africa.
It is by diving into the twists and turns of this 5,000-year-old agricultural complex, located 100 kilometers east of Rabat, that researchers have unearthed a little-known part of the region’s prehistoric history, thus broadening our understanding of its socio-economic development. This Neolithic village turns out to be much more than a simple set of structures: it is a tangible testimony to the sophistication and complexity of the society that forged it.
The artifacts unearthed on this site of colossal magnitude for the time never cease to amaze archaeologists. Thousands of polished axes, an impressive number of grain mills, and painted ceramics of exceptional quality decorated with polychrome decorations never seen before in North Africa bear witness to artisanal mastery and extraordinary creativity.
But that’s not all. The remains of hundreds, even thousands, of silos intended to store crops reveal an intensive and organized agricultural practice, testifying to advanced expertise in food resource management. This unknown society that shaped Oued Beht thus demonstrates its ability to adapt to its environment and to prosper thanks to innovative and efficient agriculture.
The impact of this discovery goes far beyond Moroccan borders. Indeed, the close commercial links between the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula, highlighted by researchers, reveal the importance of these exchanges for the societies of the time. This flourishing commercial network demonstrates a connection and interdependence of cultures around the Mediterranean, thus contributing to enriching our vision of the ancient history of the region.
The results of this multidisciplinary research conducted at Oued Beht offer a window into a distant past, yet so rich in lessons for our present. By delving into the layers of the past, we better understand the foundations on which our modern societies are based, also forged by innovation, collaboration and adaptation.
Thus, Oued Beht proves to be much more than a simple archaeological site: it is a veritable open book on the early ages of agriculture in North Africa, a tangible testimony to the creativity and human ingenuity that have shaped our history. May we continue to explore these buried treasures to better understand where we come from and where we are going.