The earliest occupation of North-Africa: the Moroccan perspective

Abstract

Abstract The long sequence at Casablanca covers the past 5.5 Ma. The oldest lithic assemblages are found in Late Lower Pleistocene deposits, ca. 1 Ma, in unit L of Thomas Quarry 1, and consist of Acheulean artefacts made from quartzite and flint. The first human remains discovered in this area were found in younger Middle Pleistocene deposits and cover an important period of human evolution between Homo erectus and modern Homo . They are associated with Acheulean artefacts and rich faunal assemblages in caves (Littorina Cave at Sidi Abderrahman, caves at Thomas Quarries 1 and 3). The variability of Acheulean assemblages is well documented following recent excavations in various sites around the well-known locality of Sidi Abderrahman (Bears Cave, Cap Chatelier, Unit L and Hominid Cave at Thomas Quarry 1, Rhino Cave at Oulad Hamida Quarry 1, Sidi Abderrahman Extension and Sidi Al Khadir open-air sites). The Casablanca sequence offers useful data for comparison with those from other African areas where hominids appeared and developed, and should thus be considered in the debate on the earliest occupation of Europe.