2024-07-05 21:24:36
During this visit, Mr. Bensaid, who was accompanied by the governor of the province of Larache, Bouassam El Alamine, and regional officials of the heritage and culture departments, learned about the historical and heritage potential of this archaeological site, which has architectural and historical specificities requiring in-depth scientific research.
In a statement to MAP, Mr. Bensaid said that it is “a unique archaeological site, not only in North Africa, but internationally, given the rarity of similar monuments throughout the world.”
“This site is of great archaeological importance and there is great interest both nationally and internationally for this type of historical monument,” he continued, stressing “the ministry’s commitment to restoring the site and strengthening scientific research on the site, which will be carried out by the National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage (INSAP), since there are still unknown aspects of the history of the site, hence the need to support teachers and researchers in their exploration.”
The minister also stressed the need to take care of the beauty of the region, which constitutes an opportunity to associate historical monuments with the development of their environment and to strengthen the notion of cultural tourism, taking advantage of the potential to connect the past to the present and prepare for the future, with a view to driving a new socio-economic dynamic in the region.
For his part, the director of INSAP, Abdeljalil Bouzouggar, stressed that “the site is very important not only for the history of Morocco, but also for the history of Africa and humanity”, specifying that the site is actually composed of two parts: the first is made up of circular stones dating from the fourth to the third millennium BC, while the second represents the center called ‘Tumulus’, which dates from the fifth and fourth centuries BC.
The archaeologist noted that the discovery is extremely important historically, saying that it shows a continuity of human activity in the same place, demonstrating the ability of ancient inhabitants to erect stone structures, such as the installation of two stones measuring between 4.2 and 5 meters at the entrance, as well as the creation of a stone circle 1.5 meters high.
“This formation shows the mastery of construction by the inhabitants of this area well before any contact with other peoples, which means that there were the beginnings of architecture,” he added, estimating that this type of construction was probably used for social and perhaps ideological organizational purposes, linked to the rituals practiced at the time.
Situated on a hill at an altitude of 54 metres, about 20 km northeast of Larache, the site of Mzoura is classified among the “cromlechs”, with 167 standing stones of various sizes and shapes. It is considered the largest of its kind in North Africa, probably dating from the Bronze Age.
2024-07-05 21:24:36