Archaeological evidence on north African influence on Iberian populations discovered near Tetouan
Maghreb, Local, 4/9/2003

Archaeological evidence on North-African influence on Iberian populations were found in a cavern near the northern city of Tetouan, the Moroccan ministry of culture said in a release.

The searches, conducted in cooperation between Morocco's national institute of archaeology and heritage and Oxford University's archaeological institute, found human bones and stone tools that prove the existence of an influence of North-African populations on those of the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Region of Cadiz in the period between 25,000 and 18,000 BC.

The searches had started March 1st in the caverns of Al Hattab and Kahf Elhmer, located respectively in the regions of Oulad Ali Mansour and Oued Laou.

Geological, historical and climate studies showed that between 25,000 and 18,000 BC, the Mediterranean sea level decreased by over 90 meters, which gave islets that made it easier to cross to south Europe, the release goes.

The populations that crossed to south Europe, limited in number used new stone tools, unknown in the region until then, the ministry of culture explained, adding that other searches will be led in a site called Aqbil.

The only searches to have ever led to human bones dating back to before 25,000 BC are those conducted in the site of Tafoughalt (east).

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