Ancient defensive structures discovered in Morocco

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known defensive system in North Africa outside of the Nile Valley. The structures, located at the Oued Beht site in northwestern Morocco, date back approximately 3,500 to 4,000 years.

The discovery was made during the third excavation campaign of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project (OBAP). Researchers identified a large ditch and an embankment beneath visible masonry, which delimit a quadrangular area in the southern sector of the site. This finding resolves a long-standing archaeological mystery regarding the function and era of these defensive works.

The site, situated on a ridge overlooking a watercourse in the Khémisset province, covers about ten hectares. Previous studies indicated the settlement was inhabited by a prosperous farming community between the mid-4th and early 3rd millennia BCE, which maintained connections as far as the Iberian Peninsula. The research involved an international collaboration including the National Research Council (CNR ISPC), the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage of Morocco, the University of Cambridge, and ISMEO.