Ancient Moroccan Settlement Discovery Rewrites Pre-Phoenician History

March 10, 2025March 9, 2025 Maghreb Magazine

Archaeologists in Morocco have uncovered the remains of a 4,200-year-old settlement that predates the arrival of the Phoenicians, challenging long-held assumptions about the region’s early history. The discovery at the Kach Kouch archaeological site suggests that northwestern Morocco was inhabited far earlier than previously believed, offering new insights into the ancient cultures that once thrived in the area. This study was published by Cambridge University press research article on 17 February 2025.

A Settlement Older Than the Phoenicians

The Phoenicians, known for establishing colonies across the Mediterranean and North Africa, arrived in Morocco around 800 B.C. However, excavations at Kach Kouch reveal evidence of human activity dating back to between 2200 and 2000 B.C. This finding contradicts the notion that northwestern Africa was uninhabited before the Phoenicians’ arrival.

Among the earliest discoveries at the site are three pottery shards, a cow bone, and a chipped stone that may have been part of a tool. While it remains unclear whether Kach Kouch was a permanent settlement during this period, the findings indicate that the region was not the empty landscape it was once thought to be.

By 1300 B.C., Kach Kouch had developed into a thriving settlement. Archaeologists uncovered the remains of houses constructed using the wattle-and-daub technique, which involves creating a wooden frame (wattle) and filling it with a mixture of earth and straw (daub). The settlement’s success was partly due to its agricultural practices, with evidence of crops like barley, wheat, beans, and peas. Additionally, over 8,000 animal bones were found, suggesting the inhabitants raised cattle, sheep, and goats.

Figures: A) the north-western Maghreb, showing the location of Kach Kouch and other sites mentioned in the text; B) the Gharb region showing the reconstructed palaeolagoon and known Bell Beaker sites; C) view of Kach Kouch and the Oued Laou estuary, looking east; D) view from Kach Kouch, looking west, of the inner valleys of the western Rif mountains. Basemaps: ASTER GDEM and Landsat 8 (figure by H. Benattia).

A Blend of Cultures

The arrival of the Phoenicians around 800 B.C. brought significant changes to Kach Kouch. Phoenician ceramics began to appear, and the architectural style of the houses evolved. While the wattle-and-daub technique persisted, houses were now built on stone bases, a method characteristic of Phoenician construction. This blending of local and Phoenician styles points to a cultural hybridization, where the two groups influenced each other.

Despite these changes, it remains uncertain whether the settlement expanded during this period or what name the Phoenicians might have given it. What is clear is that Kach Kouch was abandoned around 600 B.C., with no signs of violent conflict. Researchers speculate that the inhabitants may have relocated to newer settlements emerging along the North African coast, such as Carthage in modern-day Tunisia.

Carthage, a prominent Phoenician city, grew in power and eventually clashed with the Roman Republic in a series of conflicts known as the Punic Wars. These wars culminated in the destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C., as Rome expanded its influence across the Mediterranean.

The discovery at Kach Kouch not only sheds light on the early inhabitants of northwestern Morocco but also challenges the narrative of the region as a blank slate before the Phoenicians. By revealing a complex history of settlement, agriculture, and cultural exchange, the findings underscore the rich and diverse heritage of North Africa.