Jebel Irhoud

The archaeological site contains an 8-meter-deep limestone cave with Pleistocene deposits located on the eastern side of a limestone outcrop at 562 meters elevation.

First discovered in 1960 during barite mining operations, workers found a skull within cave walls, leading to joint Moroccan-French archaeological expeditions starting in 1961.

The site preserves evidence of Mousterian culture practices, including stone tools and animal remains that indicate early human hunting and fire usage patterns.

Located 50 kilometers southeast of Safi and 100 kilometers west of Marrakesh, the site requires advance permissions for scientific research visits.

Research at Jebel Irhoud revealed human fossils dated to 300,000 years ago, making them the oldest known remains of Homo sapiens in the world.

GPS coordinates: 31.85498,-8.87251

Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:31