Maritime links between Morocco and Iberia during the Bronze Age

For decades, the Neolithic and Bronze Age in North Africa west of Egypt remained a puzzling void in the archaeological record, often overshadowed by the well-documented developments across the Mediterranean in Europe. However, meticulous excavations at two key sites are now filling this crucial gap and showcasing a vibrant, interconnected past.

Evidence of Large-Scale Agricultural Production at Oued Beht

Archaeologists have uncovered extensive evidence of sophisticated agricultural practices, including domesticated barley, wheat, peas and goats, sheep, pigs and cattle, as well as wild olive and pistachio. The presence of numerous large pits, possibly used for storage, suggests a community engaged in substantial food production and surplus management. The scale of the settlement, with an estimated area of at least 9 to 10 hectares, hints at a significant population.

Iberian copper age connections

At the copper age sites of Valencina de la Concepción, near Seville in Spain, and Los Millares near Almeria, north African ivory and ostrich shell artefacts have been identified. These had first reached Iberia during the 3rd Millennium BC. From the same period, a lone menhir near Tangier, and slightly later dolmens in the Maghreb, remind us of megalithic burial practices on the Iberian Peninsula.

The Oued Beht pottery style is also remarkably similar to that of the Perdigoes (southern Portugal) and La Loma (near Granada) copper age sites in Iberia, as was the silo technology they used to store grain.

Genetic connection

Finally, over the last few years, genetic analysis has revealed a southern Iberian population of local hunter-gatherers, Neolithic Iberian farmers, and, crucially, Saharan pastoralists. Reinforcing this research, an individual of African descent was buried at the late copper age site of Camino de las Yeseras in the central Iberian massif about 500 kilometres from the sea.

Early Occupation and Agricultural Innovation at Kach Kouch

The site has three occupation phases, 2200 BC to 2000 BC (KK1), 1300 to 900 BC (KK2) and the 8th and 7th centuries BC (KK3). The earliest, between 2200 and 2000 BC, provides tantalizing hints of human presence, though a permanent settlement is difficult to definitively confirm for this period.

A more established agricultural community thrived from 1300 to 900 BC, with archaeologists unearthing wood-and-mud-brick buildings, rock-cut silos, and stone-grinding tools, indicative of a sedentary farming lifestyle. The inhabitants cultivated barley, wheat, beans, and peas, alongside rearing cattle, sheep, and goats.

Phoenician Influences at Kach Kouch

The later phases, from 800 to 600 BC, demonstrate a dynamic interaction with external influences. While the Phoenicians did not replace existing populations, their arrival led to cultural exchange, evidenced by the introduction of wheel-thrown pottery, including amphorae and red-slipped pottery types with established chronologies and parallels in southern Iberia.The Phoenician influence is also seen with the introduction of iron tools, and new architectural methods incorporating stone foundations alongside traditional wattle-and-daub.

Shared Cultures and Economic Exchange Across the Strait of Gibraltar

At Kach Kouch, the earliest phase of occupation coincides with the Copper/Bronze Age transition in neighbouring Iberia. The discovery of a tin bronze fragment from the Late Bronze Age (1110–920 BC) is particularly significant, representing the earliest radiocarbon-dated example of such an artifact in northwest Africa.

More broadly, the material culture at Oued Beht, including pottery decorated with dark-on-light painted designs, finds striking parallels in southern Iberia, strongly suggesting long-range connectivity. The commonality of domesticated animal species and the presence of similar storage pit features in both Morocco and Iberia further underscore a shared cultural and economic sphere that spanned the strait.