Unveiling prehistory: researchers rediscover humanity in Casablanca

As Casablanca buzzes with preparations for the grand CAN 2025 and the 2030 World Cup, another, quieter project unfolds just steps away from the glitzy Morocco Mall. Behind metal barriers lies a different kind of excavation, one that seeks to uncover the distant past rather than build the future.

At the archaeological site of Carrière Thomas I, a dedicated team of researchers is digging deep into human history. From April 2 to 17, a research mission was conducted under the program "Prehistory of Casablanca." This Moroccan-French initiative is led by the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage (INSAP), in collaboration with France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Archimedes Excellence Laboratory (University Paul Valéry – Montpellier), and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

Equipped with advanced tools, these archaeologists meticulously trace the earliest signs of human presence in this part of the world. On the last day of the mission, they focused on restoring a rhinoceros skull discovered years earlier at the nearby Rhinoceros Cave, which has yielded the oldest fossil remains of animals consumed by humans in Africa.

In a makeshift laboratory, a paleontological restoration specialist works diligently. Her attention is fixated on this fossil, nearly 900,000 years old. She cleans and reassembles the pieces, placing each bone back in its rightful position. Through this delicate restoration, an ancient story comes back to life.

“This is not plaster we're using to restore the fossil; it's sediment from the site combined with acrylic resin. This fine, reversible method maintains the object’s readability while preserving its scientific potential,” explains Camille Daujeard, an archeozoologist from the National Museum of Natural History and co-director of the "Prehistory of Casablanca" program.

The restoration process involves removing old layers and reattaching fragments to reveal the bone’s structure for researchers. “Thanks to this restoration work, it becomes possible to conduct traceological studies to identify potential butchering or handling marks,” she adds.

Perhaps, with a bit of luck, this skull will help clarify a long-standing mystery: why so many rhinoceroses were found in this small cave? The species is not cave-dwelling, and there is no clear evidence of human hunting, yet there are signs of disturbance, as if water or other animals had moved the remains.

Beyond restoring the skull, an interdisciplinary investigation is taking shape. The well-preserved teeth of this rhinoceros also tell part of the story. “Through microscopic wear analysis or isotopes, researchers can reconstruct the animals' diets and, by extension, the landscapes they inhabited. Savanna? Forest? Every micro-fracture becomes a clue. Every detail, no matter how insignificant it seems, matters. We examine past environments,” emphasizes Abderrahim Mohib, archaeologist and prehistorian.

But why are these distant period studies important for a city undergoing reconstruction? “These efforts and studies are part of a broader framework: the valorization of Moroccan heritage. Casablanca is now attracting the attention of paleontologists and archaeologists from around the world,” he responds.

“Through these discoveries, we are sketching a narrative: that of a region at the heart of human prehistory, capable of recounting the early adventures of human groups before the emergence of Homo sapiens and the mysteries of animal life. It’s a narrative Morocco wants to share in light of the major events to come,” he continues.

Once fully revealed, the rhinoceros skull, along with other fragments and artifacts, will be permanently displayed at the Sidi Abderrahmane Prehistory Park (currently under renovation), located at the site of the old Sidi Abderrahmane quarry. This site gained fame in 1955 with the discovery of a fragmentary human jaw dating back approximately 350,000 years.

According to Rosalia Gallotti, from the Archimedes Excellence Laboratory and co-director of the "Prehistory of Casablanca" program, the archaeological sites in Casablanca offer crucial insights for studying and reconstructing the history of Acheulean material culture in North Africa, marking the longest continuous culture in human history from the Lower Paleolithic period.

Casablanca is home to various archaeological sites, including the Ahl Al Oughlam quarry (2.5 million years), Site L at Carrière Thomas I (over 1.3 million years), the Hominid Cave at Carrière Thomas I (780,000 years), the Rhinoceros Cave (800,000 – 900,000 years), and the Sidi Abderrahmane quarry (500,000 to 300,000 years).

This invaluable archaeological potential holds great promise for the city’s future, yet many secrets remain to be uncovered.