A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in northwest Morocco is reshaping the historical understanding of the Maghreb (the northwestern region of Africa). Researchers have uncovered the first Bronze Age settlement in this geographical area dating back to as early as 2200 BC, predating the Phoenician period.
For decades, scholars believed the Maghreb had no established civilizations during this period, often describing it as an “empty land” until Phoenician settlements appeared around 800 BC.
However, findings from a recent study led by Hamza Benattia Melgarejo, a researcher at the University of Barcelona, challenge that notion. Published in Antiquity, the study presents Kach Kouch as the oldest known site of its kind in Mediterranean Africa, apart from Egypt.
Excavation in three distinct phases
Located near the Lau River, roughly 10 kilometers from the coast and 30 kilometers southeast of Tétouan, the site spans one hectare. Excavations reveal three distinct phases of occupation, each marking a different stage of settlement and adaptation.
The earliest phase, between 2200 and 2000 BC, left few traces but provides crucial evidence of human presence. Researchers believe it coincides with the transition of the Bronze Age into neighboring Iberia, suggesting early connections between these regions.
The second phase, from 1300 to 900 BC, indicates a thriving agricultural community—the first known example of settled life in the Maghreb before Phoenician influence.
Archaeologists uncovered remnants of wooden mud-brick buildings, rock-cut storage silos, and grinding stones. The evidence points to a stable farming economy based on wheat and barley, supplemented by livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle.
The final phase, from 800 to 600 BC, highlights the settlement’s openness to new ideas. During this period, the inhabitants adopted several cultural and technological advancements from the eastern Mediterranean, including wheel-thrown pottery, iron tools, and stone-built architectural methods.
These developments suggest that Kach Kouch was an active participant in regional trade and cultural exchanges rather than an isolated community.
Bronze age settlement in Maghreb had developed agriculture long before the Phoenicians
The findings at Kach Kouch are reshaping historical narratives about the region’s role in the ancient world. The discovery proves that long before the Phoenicians arrived, local communities in the Maghreb had already developed agriculture, architecture, and trade networks.
“Kach Kouch is one of the first well-documented examples of continuous settlement in the Maghreb and tells a very different story from the one that has existed for a long time: it shows the history of dynamic local communities that were far from isolated,” says Benattia.
“The excavations at this site are another step towards correcting these historical biases and reveal that the Maghreb was an active participant in the social, cultural and economic networks of the Mediterranean,” says the UB researcher.
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