Holocene environmental change in NE Morocco: Archaeological and Palaeobotanical evidences from Ifri Oudadane

Abstract

The littoral site of Ifri Oudadane is one of the most important recently excavated sites in the Mediterranean Maghreb. The shelter presents Epipalaeolithic
and Neolithic layers and therefore offers the possibility to investigate the Neolithic transition in the region. Besides introducing the archaeological
context, this paper focuses on palaeobotanical data in order to reconstruct Holocene environmental change and human use of plant resources for the
period c. 11 to 5.7 ka cal. BP. Results show intense landscape transformations resulting from anthropic and climatic factors. First human occupations start
at the beginning of the Holocene with favourable conditions in this otherwise harsh semi-arid stretch of land. A wooded environment with evergreen
sclerophyllous oaks and riparian forests is documented and exploited by hunter-gatherers. From c. 7.6 ka cal. BP farming activities are well attested
together with significant human impact, herding pressure and a progressive decline of arboreal components. After 6.6 ka cal. BP conditions become less
favourable and markers for aridity increase. Riparian taxa disappear (Alnus) or decrease (Fraxinus, Populus, Salix) shrubs (Tamarix) and grasses (Artemisia)
increase with a degradation of forest into shrubland (macchia). During 6.6 and 6.0 ka cal. BP there is a general occupation gap in arid and semi-arid
Morocco and evidence for that change is also found in the alluvial deposits of the Moulouya, NE Morocco. Indicators for food production decrease at the
same time and the site is abandoned during the first half of the 6th millennium cal. BP.

Resources

• Zapata et al 2013 The Holocene IOD palaeobotany.pdf

Bibliography

Lydia Zapata, J. M. J. G. J. M., Peña-Chocarro, L. (2013): Holocene environmental change in NE Morocco: Archaeological and Palaeobotanical evidences from Ifri Oudadane. – In: The Holocene, Vol. 23, p: 1286-1296