RT journal article
T1 The Prehistoric Cave of Guenfouda (Province of Jerada, Morocco) : Assessment of 20 Years of Archaeological and Paleontological Research (2004–2024)
A1 Aouraghe, Hassan
A1 Mhamdi, Hicham
A1 Farkouch, Mourad
A1 Souhi, Mohamed
A1 Hosni, Mohammed
A1 Almisas Cruz, Sergio
A1 Ouchaou, Brahim
A2 HistoriaGeografía y Filosofía
K1 Guenfouda cave
K1 Eastern Morocco
K1 Prehistory
K1 Assessment
K1 2004 to 2024 excavations
AB The Guenfouda cave, located in Jebel Metssila in the Oujda mountains in Eastern Morocco, has been recognized as a siteof cultural interest due to its rich archaeological material. The first exploratory excavations began in 2004 by a Moroccanteam with collaboration of foreign researchers. Since then, annual paleontological and archaeological excavations havebeen carried out continuously as part of efforts to preserve and promote the region’s cultural and natural heritage. Theseendeavors are led by teacher-researchers and students from the Faculty of Sciences at Mohammed First University, withthe active involvement of students from other Moroccan and international universities. Excavations have reached depths ofup to 2.8 m in certain areas, with electrical tomography suggesting that the fill may extend to 5 m near the caves’ walls.The recovered materials are rich, well-preserved, and abundant across all layers. The large fauna remains are abundantand diverse, offering insights into the varied diet of prehistoric inhabitants of the cave, with at least 30 taxa identified.Systematic water sieving of sediments has also yielded a diverse collection of small vertebrates, including previouslyunrecorded species, some reported for the first time in fossil form in Morocco and the Maghreb. These species are associated with Mediterranean bioclimatic zones, mainly sub-humid, semi-arid and arid. The lithic artifacts reveal three culturalphases: the Neolithic, Late Paleolithic (Later Stone Age-LSA), and Middle Paleolithic (Middle Stone Age -MSA), thoughthe base layer of the fill remains unexplored. The ceramics show a remarkable diversity, featuring motifs indicative ofEarly Neolithic cardial culture, and ornamental objects indicating symbolic thought and aesthetic concerns, notably slicesof ostrich eggshell carefully transformed into necklaces.
PB Springer
SN 1867-2485
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39353
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39353
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 04-nov-2026