The first settlement area from the Bronze Age has been discovered in the Kach Kouch region of Morocco. The site has been dated back to between 2200 and 600 BC.

Scientists from the University of Barcelona have announced the discovery of the first settlement area from the Bronze Age in the Kach Kouch region of Morocco.

Dating back to between 2200 and 600 BC, the settlement sheds light on early settlements, agriculture, and cultural interactions before the Phoenicians.

Experts noted that while most Bronze Age settlements are documented in Europe, the Maghreb region has long been excluded from these historical narratives despite its geographical proximity.

Led by Hamza Benattia Melgarejo from the University of Barcelona, the research team discovered the region’s first Bronze Age settlement dating back to before the Phoenician era. This discovery is considered of great significance in African and Mediterranean history. Melgarejo reported that the Kach Kouch region, located near the Lau River, ten kilometers from the present-day coast and thirty kilometers southeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, covers an area of approximately one hectare.

Melgarejo remarked, “Kach Kouch stands as one of the best-documented examples of continuous settlement in the Maghreb, telling a very different story that has long existed. It shows that local communities were not isolated but dynamic and interactive.”

Stating that the excavations in this area are another step towards correcting historical biases, Melgarejo added, “It demonstrates that the Maghreb was an active participant in the social, cultural, and economic networks of the Mediterranean.”