In an article published in Antiquity, archaeologists discussed findings regarding the Late Prehistoric period of Mediterranean Africa.1
The study, based on excavations at the Kach Kouch archaeological site, includes analyses of the development of architectural practices, agricultural production systems and material culture elements in the region. The data obtained provide important clues about how prehistoric societies organized their living spaces and operated their economic systems.
As emphasized in the study, the structures in Kach Kouch indicate a complex settlement pattern that includes advanced engineering solutions. Structural analyses show that the stone-based wall systems were constructed within a conscious planning framework. The modular structure of the houses in particular reveals the importance that the societies in the region gave to spatial organization. It is thought that the structures built were not only used for shelter, but also as centers of socio-economic activities.
Grain storage pits, grinding stones and various agricultural processing tools obtained during the excavations are evidence that agricultural production in the region was carried out in a systematic and organized manner. According to the findings, agricultural products such as barley, wheat and legumes were processed and stored in the settlements.
These results show that agricultural production and animal husbandry are integrated and that the economic structure of society is shaped around these two sectors. It is thought that animal husbandry plays a major role not only in terms of food production but also in the processing of by-products such as wool and leather. The complementarity of these processes allows society to obtain maximum efficiency from agricultural and animal resources.
Material culture findings include ceramic vessels, stone tools, bone workmanship and various ornaments. As stated in the study, ceramics are divided into different categories in terms of functionality, and the density of cooking vessels indicates that food processing processes played an important role in the settlement. Typological analyses conducted on stone tools show that carving techniques and traces of use are compatible with hunting and agricultural practices.
Researchers believe that Kach Kouch was not only a local settlement, but also integrated into a large-scale trade network. Obsidian, shells and other exotic raw materials found are interpreted as indicators of trade with distant regions. Petrological and mineralogical analyses reveal that beyond the use of raw material resources in the region, materials from foreign trade were also in circulation.
- Benattia, H., Bokbot, Y., Onrubia-Pintado, J., Benerradi, M., Bougariane, B., Bouhamidi, B., … Broodbank, C. (2025). Rethinking late prehistoric Mediterranean Africa: architecture, farming and materiality at Kach Kouch, Morocco. Antiquity, 1–21. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10[↩]
