Archaeological Deep Analysis
DNA analyses of 7,000-year-old human remains from three sites in Northwest Africa—Kaf Taht el-Ghar (near Tetuan, Morocco), Ifri n’Amr Ou Moussa (Khémisset Province), and Skhirat-Rouazi (south of Rabat)—are providing new answers to long-debated questions about the origins of the Neolithic period in North Africa. According to a study published in Nature on June 7, 2023, the spread of agriculture in the Maghreb did not result from a single wave of migration or the diffusion of ideas, but rather from repeated cultural and genetic interactions. The analyses reveal that populations living in the region between 5500–4500 BCE carried genetic legacies from early farmers originating in the Iberian Peninsula, pastoralist groups moving westward from East Africa, and local African hunter-gatherers. In particular, genomes from Skhirat-Rouazi show connections to pastoralist groups from the Fertile Crescent. This finding aligns with archaeological evidence; researchers had previously uncovered cereal and legume remains in this region.
Rafael M. Martínez (University of Córdoba), one of the lead researchers, suggests the process began in the Iberian Peninsula and progressed unidirectionally. Juan Carlos Vera (University of Huelva) emphasizes that genomic data now physically confirms migration patterns previously inferred from archaeological findings. Cristina Valdiosera (University of Burgos) notes that this tripartite genetic mixture helped shape the ancestral structure of the historical Berber (Imazighen) communities.
However, not all of North Africa experienced the same process. A second study, also published in Nature in March 2025, shows that in Eastern Maghreb (modern-day Tunisia and Libya), Neolithic practices were selectively adopted by local communities, yet genetic continuity remained largely intact. This highlights the regional diversity of the Neolithic transition.
Critical Findings
- 7,000-year-old human DNA from three archaeological sites in Morocco (Kaf Taht el-Ghar, Ifri n’Amr Ou Moussa, Skhirat-Rouazi) was analyzed.
- The Neolithic transition in the Maghreb was shaped by repeated interactions among three distinct groups: European farmers, African hunter-gatherers, and Eastern Sahara pastoralists.
- In Eastern Maghreb (Tunisia-Libya), Neolithic practices were adopted, yet genetic continuity was preserved; in contrast, migration and admixture were more decisive in the west.
Historical Context and Connections to the Past
The Neolithic Revolution, defined as the process beginning approximately 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent and marked by the spread of agriculture, animal domestication, and sedentary life, has long sparked debate over whether its expansion into Europe occurred through migration or cultural diffusion. Studies by David Reich and colleagues at Harvard University have demonstrated that agriculture in Europe spread largely through the migration of farmers from Anatolia [1]. Similarly, the process in North Africa is now understood to be neither solely a product of local development nor the result of a single external influence [2].
Related Discoveries:
- 7,000-Year-Old Mummies in the Sahara: DNA analysis of naturally mummified remains from the Takarkori rock shelter (Libya) indicates that the Sahara was greener during this period and supported pastoralist communities. These findings establish a regional connection with the pastoralist genetic signatures observed in Morocco.
Archaeologist’s Note
This study reminds us that the Neolithic transition in North Africa should not be interpreted through a monolithic narrative, but rather within a framework of regional diversity and complex interactions. The evidence of intense contact between communities on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar as early as the 6th millennium BCE suggests that the Mediterranean functioned as an early 'network of connectivity.' Yet, the genetic continuity observed in Eastern Maghreb indicates that different social strategies could be adopted simultaneously. This reaffirms that the Neolithic transition was not shaped by a universal model, but rather adapted to local conditions [1].
References and Further Reading
- [1] Ancient DNA Study Shows Hunter-gatherers in North Africa .... haaretz.com. Go to Original Source
- [2] Neolithic DNA Analysis from Northwest Africa Reveals Some Hunter .... discovermagazine.com. Go to Original Source