Jebel Irhoud, Morocco: The Ultimate Guide

Jebel Irhoud is a site containing hominin remains, located in Morocco. Jebel Irhoud was first occupied by humans approximately 300,000 years ago and remnants of early Homo sapiens have been found at Jebel Irhoud as recently as 160,000 years ago.

On May 15th 2017, an international team of scientists published a study in the journal Nature describing a partial cranium and a mandible from Jebel Irhoud.

This new discovery from Jebel Irhoud represents more evidence that human beings evolved in Africa. Researchers have been studying Jebel Irhoud for over 50 years, but the site did not explode into popular literature until the discovery of a face in clay. Jebel Irhoud is an ancient archaeological site located near Jebel Irhoud, approximately 50 km south-east of the city of Safi in Morocco. The earliest Jebel Irhoud hominin fossils were discovered by French mining engineers and archaeologists following fossil fuel exploration activities at Jebel Irhoud in the 1960’s.

The Jebel Irhoud site contains a large number of archaeological structures and lithic assemblages as well as hominin fossils. Jebel Irhoud is widely considered to be one of the most important Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites in Africa, due to its combination of a large number of well preserved faunal and human remains, excellent archaeological preservation and evidence for a much greater palaeo-ecological diversity in the Jebel Irhoud area than currently exists within the confines of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Jebel Irhoud has been submitted for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List by Morocco in 2016. Jebel Irhoud is an archaeological site located just north of the locality known as Tlet Ighoud, approximately 50 km south-east of the city of Safi in Morocco.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jabel Irhoud

Is there anything new in the research with Jebel Irhoud? 

There is new research being done on Jebel Irhoud, but it is still in the preliminary stages. The current research is focused on trying to establish the timeline of human evolution and how different species of humans may have interacted with each other.

Are you interested in discovering the life of early modern humans? 

Yes! I’m fascinated by early human history and the ways that different cultures evolved. It’s so interesting to think about how our ancestors lived and the challenges they faced. I’d love to learn more about early human life and culture!

 

Image Information: By Mohammed Kamal, MPI EVA Leipzig or Link, CC BY 4.0, Link