Contrebandiers Cave

Grotte des Contrebandiers

Morocco · Rabat-Salé-Kénitra

CaveUnknown
Approximate periodMiddle and Later Stone Age See on the map ↓

In brief

The cave on the Atlantic coast has been excavated at various times since the 1950s. Bone tools and marks on animal bones have been linked to hide and fur processing.

What was found?

  • 1Rib-bone spatulas

    These are flat-ended tools made by splitting and shaping ribs. According to researchers, their shapes and use-wear suggest that they were used to prepare leather and hides.

  • 2Carnivore bones with cut marks

    According to researchers, the locations of cuts on fox, jackal and wildcat remains are consistent with skinning. Considered together with the bone tools, they provide evidence of fur processing.

  • 3Worked marine mammal tooth

    Marks consistent with use as a tool were found on the tip of a whale or dolphin tooth. According to researchers, it may have been used to shape stone tools.

What does it point to?

The finds show that bone and teeth were selected and shaped for specific tasks. According to researchers, the combination of leatherworking tools and skinning marks is indirect evidence of clothing production; no preserved garment has been found in the cave.

What did it teach us?

  1. They showed that bone tools shaped for specialized tasks were produced in the Middle Stone Age.
  2. According to researchers, they provided early evidence of leather and fur preparation.
  3. They indicated that marine mammal teeth could also be used as raw material for tools.

Latest news / selected archive

A study published in 2021 interpreted bone tools from layers approximately 120,000–90,000 years old as early evidence of hide and fur working.

Record

Culture
North African Middle Stone Age
Team / historical
Most recently confirmed joint excavation project: Harold Dibble and Mohamed Abdeljalil El Hajraoui
Coordinates
33.9217°, -6.9618°

Sources

  1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. smithsonianmag.com
  3. Max Planck Geoantropoloji Enstitüsü — Kemik aletler ve giysi üretimi

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12.000

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