Berkane: The Pigeons' Cave in Taforalt, an archaeological treasure that seduces researchers

Nestled in the Bni Snassen mountains, the Pigeons' Cave, in the commune of Taforalt (or Tafoughalt), Berkane province, has continued to seduce researchers in recent years with the archaeological and scientific treasures it contains and the secrets it reveals little by little, the latest of which was the discovery of the oldest medicinal use of plants in the world. This unprecedented scientific and archaeological achievement, announced by an international team of researchers, attests that human groups of the time had precise knowledge of the healing properties of plants and their use to treat diseases and relieve their pain.

Researchers found in this cave, located about 23 km south of the city of Berkane and about 55 km northwest of the city of Oujda, evidence of the "medicinal" use of plants in archaeological levels dating back 15,000 years.

The plants discovered correspond to the 'Ephedra' species, whose fruits were unearthed in an area of the cave that was reserved for burials according to precise rites, very widespread among human groups of the Stone Age and especially that between 22,000 and 7,000 years ago.

This unique discovery confirms Morocco's place as one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and highlights the central role of the region in understanding human evolution, particularly in the context of the interaction between human beings and their environment.

It also represents a significant advance for scientific research on the evolution of medical knowledge among ancient humans, by redefining the timeline of the use of plants in traditional treatments.

Locally, this archaeological discovery will strengthen Taforalt's position as a centre for scientific research, cultural tourism, and archaeology, thus opening up promising prospects for sustainable development in the region. It could also support the local economy by attracting more tourists and researchers.

In a statement to the MAP, Ismail Ziani, a researcher at the University of Las Palmas in Spain and a graduate of the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP) in Rabat, stressed that this cave, which is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Morocco, experienced human occupation extending from 120,000 to 12,000 years ago, mainly linked to the Aterian and Iberomaurusian cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic.

He explained that excavations at this site have revealed a series of important discoveries highlighting the life and evolution of ancient communities, notably the oldest use of symbolic jewellery and the oldest human burial of the Iberomaurusian culture dating back about 15,000 years, making it one of the oldest tombs in the world.

The researcher considered that the discovery of the oldest use of Ephedra for medicinal purposes, whether for anaesthesia, stopping bleeding, or pain relief, is proof of the knowledge these communities had in medicine, noting that Ephedra was particularly associated with burials, as its seeds were only found in funerary areas.

He added that these discoveries confirm the use of plants by the ancient inhabitants of Taforalt for medicinal and subsistence purposes, relying heavily on natural resources, such as acorns, pine nuts, and other plants to feed and heal themselves.

For his part, Hassan Talbi, a professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the Mohammed Premier University of Oujda, explained that the Pigeons' Cave in Taforalt, where this unprecedented discovery of the first medicinal use of herbs took place, has already seen other important archaeological discoveries, notably the oldest surgical operation in the world dating back 15,000 years, the traces of which are still visible on a human skull.

According to him, studies have shown that the wound had healed, indicating that the person had survived the operation and endured the pain thanks to the use of this type of plant.

The academic explained that the use of Ephedra by the ancient humans of Taforalt was not random, but testified to a good knowledge of its benefits and virtues, arguing that they had brought it into the cave and used it in a specific place, namely the burial site.

He noted that these studies, led by an international scientific team including researchers from Morocco, Great Britain, Germany, and Spain, and which lasted several years, highlight the scientific capabilities and advanced infrastructure that Morocco has in the field of archaeological research, thus reflecting the country's rich heritage and strengthening its position as a global historical centre that has contributed significantly to the evolution of humanity.

He considered that the discoveries made in the Pigeons' Cave make it a site of great archaeological and scientific value on a global scale, with a particularity among archaeological sites, hence the need to combine efforts for its inscription as a World Heritage site and this, within the framework of the valorisation of this site, which has not yet revealed all its secrets, so that it becomes a destination for research, archaeological, scientific, and cultural tourism.

Archaeological sites present enormous opportunities to promote cultural tourism and support local development, and investment in this heritage can open up promising prospects for sustainable development in the region, as a centre of attraction for lovers of cultural, scientific, and archaeological tourism.