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The Thomas 1 Quarry is located on the road to El Jadida, close to Ain Diab and the Morocco Mall. At first glance, one cannot doubt the wealth of this place, which holds some of the oldest archaeological treasures in Morocco. Its name comes from the name of the man who ran the quarry.
Abderrahim Mohib, an archaeologist, prehistory researcher and chief curator of monuments and sites, said the Thomas I quarry was discovered “by accident” “surrounded by urbanization” and that the quarry was opened “for the extraction of building materials”.
In 1969, Philipe Bénino, the son of the site foreman, discovered the left part of a human mandible, which was then attributed to Standing person», the researchers explain. The archaeological layer discovered at that time was called the “primitive cave” because “human remains, engraved tools and faunal assemblage” were found.
“Initially, paleoanthropologists attributed these remains toStanding personBut now researchers have attributed them to the Rhodesians.
Archaeologists noted that “these remains date back at least 500,000 years.”
Cutting tools. / Dr. Abderrahim Mohib
In the 1980s, researchers were able to identify a water level at a depth of 15 to 20 meters, called the “L level”. In 1988, after carrying out a survey (archaeological holes to check whether they were positive or negative), “it turned out to be a very old archaeological layer where there were archaeological materials (stone tools) associated with animal remains, “explains Abdulrahim Mohib.
“We now know that this L layer is the first archaeological layer in Morocco that dates back at least a million years.”
The first civilization and the first human presence in Morocco
Therefore, this country with “the first civilization, the first human existence, the first Aksuliang region of Morocco. This is the only place in the kingdom where we can study “the first settlements about a million years ago,” the scientist added.
There is also wildlife here, because the Thomas 1 quarry is an “ancient water pond or lake”. According to prehistorians, remains of hippos, zebras, gazelles have been found. “All this happens on an area of 1,000 square meters”.
Thomas 1 quarry, surrounded by urbanization. / Dr. Abderrahim Mohib
But the Thomas Quarry is not constantly monitored. “We need a night guard and a day guard,” laments Abderrahim Mohib. That’s not all, the place is private and owned by a “billionaire,” so it cannot be protected as a national heritage site. “We need to find a solution with the state, the Ministry of Culture or the province, for example,” insists the researcher. And adds: “As the director of the project, I am ready to change the name and put it in the name of the owner if he can come to an agreement with us.”
As for Oualid Ismail Saad, the director of heritage of the Casablanca-Settat region, contacted by Yabiradi, he is confident: “We will submit the request and we are working closely with Mohib. We will hold a working meeting to submit the classification document for the site.” According to the manager, one of the solutions envisaged is “the purchase of the land to preserve it”. For this, we need “the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Casablanca-Settat region and possibly the promotion of a fund”.
Being the economic capital of Morocco, where buildings have sprung up like mushrooms, it is impossible to avoid protecting historical sites with such a rich archaeological heritage.
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