Morocco’s National Institute of Archeology and Heritage recently announced a significant archeological discovery that sheds new light on ancient healing practices and expands our understanding of prehistoric medical knowledge. In the Grotte des Pigeons Cave in Tafoughalt, researchers found evidence of medicinal herbs dating back approximately 15,000 years, marking an important milestone in the study of humanity’s early use of plant-based remedies.
Located in northeastern Morocco, the Grotte des Pigeons Cave, also known as Taforalt, has long been recognized as a key prehistoric site. Since its discovery in 1908, it has offered invaluable insights into the lives of North Africa’s ancient inhabitants through ongoing excavation and research. The site, considered North Africa’s oldest cemetery, contains the remains of at least 34 individuals from the later Stone Age, along with artifacts that suggest sophisticated burial and medical practices.
Central to this new finding is the discovery of the Ephedra plant, a medicinal herb still in use today. Archeologists identified macrofossils of Ephedra fruits in the cave, preserved for millennia in the burial area. Analysis of these remains and their association with human activity indicated that this plant may have been used for its therapeutic properties, including treating colds and reducing bleeding. Radiocarbon dating confirms that the plant and human remains are contemporaneous, suggesting that Ephedra played an important role in burial rituals and perhaps daily healing practices.
The presence of Ephedra alongside the human remains also suggests that these ancient communities recognized the plant’s therapeutic potential, integrating it into both medical and funerary customs. Remarkably, the Grotte des Pigeons site also previously revealed evidence of what is believed to be the world’s oldest surgical procedure on a human skull, an operation that the individual survived, possibly aided by the medicinal properties of local plants like Ephedra.
These findings collectively challenge conventional views of prehistoric human capabilities, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of natural resources for medical applications much earlier than previously thought.