Archaeologists Discover 4,000-Year-Old Burial Sites in Tangier

Rabat– Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in northern Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula, just south of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The team unearthed three ancient cemeteries, including a stone burial estimated to date back approximately 4,000 years. Published on May 13 in the African Archaeological Review, the research offers unprecedented insights into the prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape of northwest Africa.

Led by Hamza Benattia, a doctoral student, the study aimed to investigate burial customs and the cultural evolution of the region, which remains one of the least studied in the broader Mediterranean area.

Despite centuries of archaeological work across North Africa, the prehistoric period west of Egypt remains poorly understood, the study noted.

The team explored sites across the northwestern Tangier Peninsula, focusing on the period between 3000 and 500 B.C. Their excavation revealed three cemeteries, some of which feature “cist burials,” rectangular graves carved into the rock and sealed with large stone slabs.

These tombs represent a considerable investment of time and labor, suggesting the significance of burial practices to the region’s ancient inhabitants.

Radiocarbon analysis of human remains found within one cist burial confirmed that the tomb dates to around 2000 B.C. According to the research team, this is the first-ever radiocarbon-dated cist burial in northwest Africa, providing a vital chronological reference for future studies in the region.

“These burials show a rich mosaic of funerary traditions,” the researchers wrote, underlining the cultural complexity of early societies in the area. Such discoveries help fill crucial gaps in understanding the social and ritual practices that shaped prehistoric communities in Morocco.

Another remarkable find was the presence of circular engravings, or “cup marks,” carved into the walls of some shelters. These were often arranged in patterns such as circles and parallel lines, possibly serving ritualistic or territorial purposes.

Nearby standing stones may have functioned as boundary markers, reinforcing the theory that these sites held ceremonial and social importance.

These findings not only enrich the archaeological record of Morocco but also help redefine the role of North Africa in the broader story of human civilization across the Mediterranean basin.