Post on 16-Jan-2023
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE
This article was downloaded by: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle]On: 28 May 2010Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 919382615]Publisher Taylor & FrancisInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Historical BiologyPublication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713717695
The Holocene vertebrate fauna from Guenfouda site, Eastern MoroccoHassan Aouraghea; Jordi Agustib; Brahim Ouchaouc; Salvador Bailond; Juan Manuel Lopez-Garciae;Hamid Haddoumia; Kamal El Hammoutia; Aicha Oujaaf; Bouchra Bougarianec
a Faculté des Sciences, Centre Universitaire de Recherches en Archéologie et Laboratoire desGéosciences Appliquée, Université Mohamed 1er, Oujda, Morocco b ICREA, Institut de PaleoecologiaHumana i Evolució Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain c Faculté des Sciences,Université Moulay Ismaïl, Meknès, Morocco d Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France e
Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain f
Institut National des Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine, Rabat, Morocco
First published on: 27 April 2010
To cite this Article Aouraghe, Hassan , Agusti, Jordi , Ouchaou, Brahim , Bailon, Salvador , Lopez-Garcia, Juan Manuel ,Haddoumi, Hamid , El Hammouti, Kamal , Oujaa, Aicha and Bougariane, Bouchra(2010) 'The Holocene vertebrate faunafrom Guenfouda site, Eastern Morocco', Historical Biology, 22: 1, 320 — 326, First published on: 27 April 2010 (iFirst)To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/08912961003701193URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912961003701193
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf
This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial orsystematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply ordistribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.
The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contentswill be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug dosesshould be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss,actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directlyor indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
The Holocene vertebrate fauna from Guenfouda site, Eastern Morocco
Hassan Aouraghea*, Jordi Agustib, Brahim Ouchaouc, Salvador Bailond, Juan Manuel Lopez-Garciae, Hamid Haddoumia,
Kamal El Hammoutia, Aicha Oujaaf and Bouchra Bougarianec
aFaculte des Sciences, Centre Universitaire de Recherches en Archeologie et Laboratoire des Geosciences Appliquee, UniversiteMohamed 1er, Oujda, Morocco; bICREA, Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolucio Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona,Spain; cFaculte des Sciences, Universite Moulay Ismaıl, Meknes, Morocco; dMuseum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FranceeInstitut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolucio Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; fInstitut National des Sciencesde l’Archeologie et du Patrimoine, Rabat, Morocco
(Received 20 January 2010; final version received 11 February 2010)
The site of Guenfouda, located 30 km South of Oujda in the Jebel Metsila, which forms part of the Monts d’Oujda, wasdiscovered in 2003. The site is of significant archaeological importance and systematic excavations have been undertakenannually since 2004. The upper levels of the cave deposits, dated to the Holocene, have yielded a very rich and well-preserved faunal assemblage comprising several taxa from the Mediterranean area, particularly within the sub-humid, semi-arid and arid bioclimatic stages. The most important feature of the faunal assemblage is that it includes species recognisablefor the first time as fossils in Morocco. The associated lithic industry is of good quality and includes cores, flakes and varioustools. The ceramic remains are very abundant, and some of these probably attest to occupation in the ancient Neolithic.
Keywords: vertebrate fauna; Holocene; Guenfouda; Eastern Morocco
Les vertebres holocenes de la grotte de Guenfouda (Maroc oriental)La grotte de Guenfouda se trouve dans un massif des Monts d’Oujda; elle est situee a 30 km au Sud de la ville d’Oujda. Lespremieres fouilles ont eu lieu en 2004 et se poursuivent chaque annee par une equipe de chercheurs et d’etudiants del’Universite Mohamed Premier d’Oujda en collaboration avec des institutions nationales et internationales. Le decapage desniveaux superieurs du remplissage d’age Holocene, montre une grande richesse en vestiges fauniques bien conservesappartenant a plusieurs taxons evoluant dans le domaine mediterraneen, principalement a l’interieur des etagesbioclimatiques subhumide, semi-aride et aride.
Un des points caracterisant cette faune, c’est l’identification de certaines especes pour la premiere fois a l’etat fossile auMaroc.
La faune a ete associee dans tous les niveaux fouilles du remplissage a une industrie lithique riche et variee et a des tessonsde ceramique tres abondants, dont certains portent des motifs de type Cardial, evoluant dans le Neolithique ancien.
Mots cles: faune de Vertebres; Holocene; Guenfouda; Maroc oriental
1. Introduction
Guenfouda cave (also called Ghar Zebouj) is located 6 km
from the village of Guenfouda in the province of Jerada in
Eastern Morocco (Figure 1).
The cave was formed in the Aalenian–Bajocian
(Jurassic) dolomites and oolitic limestones of the cliff of
Jebel Metsila, in the Monts d’Oujda (Figure 2). The cave
is a large gallery consisting of two main chambers
separated by a central stalagmite pillar and lies at an
altitude of 930 m.
The archaeological and paleontological importance of
Guenfouda was recognised in 2003 by A. Billy and
H. Aouraghe. It was confirmed during the first
fieldwork conducted in 2004, during which important
archaeological material has been discovered (Aouraghe
et al. 2005, 2008).
The infill deposits of Guenfouda cave appear to be
deep. At the surface there is an ashy level with stones bearing
signs of having been heated, which is rich in archaeological
material paralleling the upper Neolithic levels of Rhafas
cave, located at 15 km northeast of Guenfouda, and the Ibero-
Maurusians levels of Pigeons Cave in Tafoughalt, in the
Beni-znassen Mountains (Figure 1).
The excavated Neolithic upper levels of the cave
reveal a rich lithic assemblage, shards of pottery variously
decorated and abundant wild or domestic faunal bones, in
association with human remains. Preliminary results of the
archaeological and paleontological explorations of
ISSN 0891-2963 print/ISSN 1029-2381 online
q 2010 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/08912961003701193
http://www.informaworld.com
*Corresponding author. Email: aouraghe1@yahoo.fr
Historical Biology
Vol. 22, Nos. 1–3, March–June–September 2010, 320–326
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
the cave have been the subject of a brief publication
(Aouraghe et al. 2008). The present work treats the study
of all excavated vertebrate fauna including the remains
unearthed at the excavation campaign of 2009.
2. The vertebrate faunas
The vertebrate fossil material excavated from the
Guenfouda cave deposits attests the existence of a rich
and varied fauna, composed of more than 40 species or
genera belonging to many groups:
Hominids (Homo sapiens); Carnivores (Canis famil-
iaris, Vulpes vulpes, Caracal caracal, Mustelide);
Herbivores (Equus asinus, Equus sp. (? mauritanicus),
Sus scrofa ou Sus scrofa f. domestica, Bos primigenius,
Alcelaphus buselaphus, Oryx sp., Ammotragus lervia,
Gazella (two species), Ovis aries, Capra hircus); Rodents
(Hystrix cristata, Mus spretus, Meriones shawi, Dipodillus
campestris, Eliomys sp., Atlantoxerus getulus, Ctenodac-
tylus sp.); Lagomorphs (Lepus capensis, Oryctolagus
cuniculus); Insectivores (Atelerix algirus, Crocidura
russula, Crocidura whitakeri, Elephantulus rozeti);
Amphibians (Discoglossus pictus, Bufo mauritanicus, Bufo
viridis, Rana sp.); Reptiles (Testudo, Emys ou Mauremys,
Trogonophis wiegmanni, Agama cf. bibronii, Chamaeleo
chamaeleon cf. Eumeces, Chalcides, Malpolon, Coronella
cf. girondica, Natrix maura, Gekkonidae (species ?) and
Lacertidae (species ?)); Birds (Struthio camelus and other
birds, including raptors, recovered in the sieve).
The site has yielded a significant number of bones and
teeth in varied states of preservation. There are two types
of fossils present, depending on the nature of the sediment
and the presence of concretion carbonates from karstifica-
tion: the first type are bones coated with a layer of
carbonate concretion located in the interior of the cave,
and the second type are those without concretions from the
Figure 1. Location of the Guenfouda cave (Eastern Morocco).
Figure 2. Position of the Guenfouda cave within Jebel Metsila(Monts d’Oujda).
Historical Biology 321
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
square at the entrance of the cave, the sediments of which
are more earthy and powdery.
2.1 Rodents, insectivores, chiropters andmacroscelideans
(Jordi Agustı & Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcıa)
Rodents
The site of Guenfouda includes the following rodent species:
Mus spretus,Mus shawi,Dipodillus campestris,Eliomys sp.,
A. getulus, Ctenodactylus sp. and H. cristata (Figure 3).
Meriones spretus Lataste, 1883 (Figure 3(C))
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 161.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 70.
Remarks. This is by far the most common species of the
site. In Guenfouda, the first lower m 1 of this species
presents a clearly tetralobated anterocone, with well-
developed labial lobe of the anterocone (tE), differing in
this respect from the domestic species Mus musculus
domesticus that today lives in the area. Another difference
between M. spretus and M. musculus is that the former
colonises rocky and sandy areas, in addition to the
mountains, being much more resistant to dryness and
being able to persist in zones with poor vegetation.
Meriones shawi (Rozet, 1833) (Figure 3(D))
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 70.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 16.
Remarks. This rather large gerbil represents the second
most common species from the sample. Today, it inhabits
quite diversified environments including clay and sandy
soils, more rarely rocky environments.
Dipodillus campestris Le Vaillant, 1867 (Figure 3(B))
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 32.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 14.
Remarks. The species D. campestris has been allocated in a
number of genera or subgenera, including Hendecapleura
and Dipodillus (we follow this last group here). This species
inhabits a variety of environments (for example daıas,
sebkha, rocky biotopes, etc.), and is frequently commensal
with humans where there is grain accumulation.
Eliomys sp.
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 2.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 1.
Remarks. Glirids (dormice) are very rarely represented at
Guenfouda. We identified only an upper maxilla retaining the
P 4 and a very worn upper M 3 in which the dental design
cannot be recognised, both showing the typical morphology
of the genus Eliomys. Until recently, all the specimens from
this genus in North Africa were assigned to the European
species Eliomys quercinus, although a number of subspecies
were recognised. Now it seems clear that the North African
populations belong to two different species, Eliomys
munbyanus and Eliomys melanurus. Both tend to colonise
zones with quite abundant vegetation as well as rocky or
mountain environments. Given the scarce representation of
this genus at Guenfouda, it is impossible for the moment to
assign the examples to one or another species.
Atlantoxerus getulus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Figure 3(A))
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 4.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 1.
Remarks. A. getulus is a ground squirrel which today
occupies most of the western Maghreb. It inhabits rocky
Figure 3. Small mammals from the Guenfouda cave. (A)A. getulus, left P4-M1 (occlusal view); (B) Dipodillus campestris,left M1-M3 (occlusal view); (C) Mus spretus, right M1-M2(occlusal view); (D) Mus shawi, right M1-M2 (occlusal view); (E)Crocidura russula, right mandible (lingual view); (F) Crocidurawhitakeri, left mandible (lingual view); (G)Elephantulus rozeti, leftM2 (occlusal view); (H) Myotis blythii, left M3 (occlusal view).
H. Aouraghe et al.322
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
environments without trees, where it can be found at
altitudes of up to 3,000 m.
Ctenodactylus sp.
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 1.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 1.
Remarks.Gundis are represented at Guenfouda by an upper
P 4. Although singular, its presence is significant. The
most common species,Ctenodactylus gundi, today inhabits
rocky environments in arid areas in the south of Morocco.
A second smaller species, Ctenodactylus vali, lives in
similar places. The size of the P 4 seems to relate to the
former, most common, species. However, given the
scarcity of this species in Guenfouda, we await further
material to provide specific determination to continue.
Hystrix cristata
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 10.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 4.
Remarks. H. cristata (porcupine) is represented in
Guenfouda by 10 dental remains from at least four
individuals including two young. The presence of the
porcupine is also attested by numerous typical incisor bite
marks left on the bones of large mammals.
Rare in the early Quaternary, H. cristata became very
common in the North African middle and upper
Pleistocene as its presence is attested in several sites
including Carriere Thomas (Bernoussi 1997), El Harhoura
1 (Aouraghe and Abassi 2002) and Bouknadel, Doukkala
II (Michel 1990). It currently exists in Morocco all
the way from the North to the borders of the Sahara
(Aulagnier 1992).
2.2 The Lagomorphs
(B. Bougariane)
Number of identified specimens (NISP): 10.
Minimal number of individuals (MNI): 4.
The lagomorphs are represented by two species:
O. cuniculus (MNI ¼ 2) and L. capensis (MNI ¼ 2).
These species are attested by two pelvic fragments of
different sizes. Among the remains of lagomorphs, we
note the presence of two unfused distal epiphyses
of femurs. They are noticeably large, despite coming
from young individuals. Based on dimensions, these
two fossils can be attributed to L. capensis (hare).
However, two other remains recall the rabbit
O. cuniculus. These are a distal end of a humerus
with a very prominent medial tubercle and a distal tibia
with a depression on the shaft above the epiphysis.
These two anatomical characters are typical of bones
from O. cuniculus (Callou 1997).
2.3 The Amphibians and Reptiles
(S. Bailon)
Amphibians and reptiles are represented by at least 17
taxa belonging to 4 anuran amphibians (D. pictus,
B. mauritanicus, B. viridis et Rana sp.) and 13 reptiles
(Testudo, Emys or Mauremys, T. wiegmanni, Agama cf.
bibronii, C. chamaeleon cf. Eumeces, Chalcides, Malpolon,
Coronella cf. girondica, N. maura. The taxonomic affinities
ofGekkonidae and Lacertidae still remain to be established).
The number of taxa represents approximately 53% of the
total herpetofauna (about 32 species) which are currently
present within a 50 km radius from Guenfouda [data on
extant species obtained from Bons and Genier (1996).
Agames and chameleons are represented, respectively, by
Agama cf. bibronii (Figure 4) and C. Chamaeleon (Figure 5).
These are the first fossils of these animals in Morocco.
2.4 Birds
The study of fossilised bird remains from the excavations
is underway. The species S. camelus is represented by a
large amount of eggshell fragments. These were some-
times sliced and perforated for necklaces. Figure shows the
various stages of manufacture of these discs of ostrich eggs
discovered at Guenfouda.
It is worthwhile to note that only fragments of
eggshells are present, but no bone remains of this species
have been discovered so far. It is not clear whether the
ostrich was among the species hunted by prehistoric man or
if only its eggs were used for decorative purposes (Figure 6).
The presence of ostrich in the Neolithic levels of Guenfouda
is synonymous with an arid climate.
2.5 Carnivores and herbivores
(Ouchaou, Aouraghe and Bougariane)
Large mammals are abundant at Guenfouda.
Figure 4. Agama cf. bibronii from Guenfouda, 1: right dental,(A) medial view and (B) side view.
Historical Biology 323
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
Carnivores (NISP: 41).
Forty-one fossilised remains are from carnivores, rep-
resented by four species, including two Canidae: Canis
lupus f. familiaris, V. vulpes (Figure 7(A)), a medium-
sized Felida with morphology similar to C. caracal, and a
small carnivore that could be a mustelid.
Herbivores (NISP: 336)
The herbivores are abundant and comprise diverse families,
including equids, suids and bovids. The accumulation of
bones in the infilling is mainly anthropogenic.
Equidae (NISP: 24) (Figure 7(C))
The Equids are represented by teeth and bone fragments
(NISP: 24). Based on the degree of tooth wear, they can be
classified into three classes: young, adult and older.
The remains attributed to horses belong to two species:
one small, E. asinus, and one medium-sized Equus sp.,
probably a Zebrine. The latter is recognised in several sites
in North Africa under the name of Equus mauritanicus.
Most paleontologists doubt on this attribution, and it will
be necessary to review the equid materials from old
excavations in North Africa.
Suidae (NISP: 11) (Figure 7(D))
The suids include a few remnants belonging to young and
adult individuals. However, in the absence of canine and
third molars, the distinction between Sus scrofa
(Wild Boar) and Sus scrofa f. domestica (pig) is not
always obvious.
Bovidae (NISP: 301)
The bone remains assigned to Bovidae are the most
frequent and most diverse in the Guenfouda cave deposits.
They include five subfamilies: Bovini, Alcelaphini,
Hippotraginids, Antilopini and Caprini.
The Bovini include B. primigenius f. taurus (Figure
7(G)). The Antilopini include two different-sized species
of Gazella (Figure 7(F)). The Caprini are the most
abundant, with A. lervia (Figure 7(E)), C. hircus and O.
aries (Figure 7(I)).
Among the Alcelaphini remains, there are three
isolated lower molars (M1, M2 and M3) of A. buselaphus,
representing the same individual. The dimensions of A.
buselaphus found at Guenfouda (Table 1) show some
resemblance with those known from the sites of
Bouknadel, Doukkala II (Michel 1990), Kehf-el-Baroud
(Ouchaou 2000) and El Harhoura 1 (Aouraghe 2001).
Similarly, the dimensions of astragals of A. buselaphus
from Guenfouda fall within the variation limits of
specimens from several prehistoric sites and extant ones,
but they are smaller than those found at the sites Doukkala
II and El Harhoura 1 (Figure 8).
Hippotraginids include one lower molar (M1-2)
distinguished by a characteristic caprin fold (anterosty-
lide), detached from the mesial lobe and carinated external
pillars. The dental remains probably belong to the genus
Oryx. Its dimensions are (DMD £ DVL ¼ 22.5 £ 10.2
mm). These dimensions are comparable to those of Oryx
M1 of El Harhoura 1, whose values are DMD £ DVL:
23.2 £ 12 mm (Aouraghe 2001).
2.6 Hominids
(A. Oujaa)
Human remains discovered between 2004 and 2007
include post-cranial bones, some bones of hands and feet,
long bone fragments (tibia, fibula and femur) and a piece
of collarbone. These bones are characterised by a general
slenderness, all belonging to mature individuals in good
health, with no evidence of bone disease. Identification of
sex and age is not possible at the moment.
During the 2007–2009 campaigns, other human remains
were brought to light, including a mostly intact burial,
damaged by the weight of the pile of boulders (Figure 9).
Figure 5. C. chamaeleon from Guenfouda, (2) right maxillary,lateral view and (3) left dental fragment, lateral view.
Figure 6. Fragments of eggshell of S. camelus transformed intoadornment objects (Scale: £ 1).
H. Aouraghe et al.324
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
3. Conclusion
The archaeological and paleontological importance of the
Guenfouda cave site is its abundant fossil and lithic
assemblages. The fauna is very rich, varied, and includes
more than 40 species or genera.
This faunal assemblage includes fossilised examples
of the species C. chamaeleon (Chamaeleonidae) and
Agama cf. bibronii (Agamidae) (Figures 5 and 6), and this
is the earliest known example of fossils of these two
species in Morocco.
Table 1. Comparative dimensions of A. buselaphus lower molars from different Quaternary sites.
M1 M2 M3
Sites DMD DVL DMD DVL DMD DVL
Guenfouda 21.0 11.0 23.0 13.0 31.0 11.0Bouknadel (1) 16.3–22.9 9.8–11.3 20.4–22.3 10.9–12.4 29.5–31.2 10.0–10.8Doukkala II (1) 17.0–20.5 10.9–11.7 23.9–25.0 11.0–12.7 29.5–31.2 10.0–12.3Kehf-el-Baroud (2) 17.0 10.3 22.0 12.0 30.5–31.2 11.9El Harhoura I (3) 19.5–24.7 8.4–11.4 22.1–24.0 9–13.4 30.3–32.1 10.8–12.5
Notes: (1) Michel 1990, (2) Ouchaou 2000 and (3) Aouraghe 2001.
Figure 7. Large mammal remains from Guenfouda. (A) Canis familiaris and Vulpes vulpes, (B) Alcelaphus buselaphus, (C) Equussp. and Equus asinus, (D) Sus scrofa or Sus scrofa f. domestica, (E) Ammotragus lervia, (F) Gazella, (G) Bos primigenius, (H) lagomorphsand (I) Ovis aries, Capra hircus.
Historical Biology 325
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010
The quaternary infilling seems very deep. The date the
upper levels to the Holocene, corresponding to Neolithic
culture, is established by the presence of pottery sherds with a
Cardial type pattern, dated to the ancient Neolithic, by
typical Neolithic tools (polished axes and grinding wheels),
and by the presence of domesticated fossil animal species.
Most faunal taxa recovered at Guenfouda, especially
small vertebrates, evolved in the Mediterranean region,
mainly in the sub-humid, semi-arid and arid bioclimatic
zones.
That there were water points in the vicinity of the site is
attested by the presence of aquatic species such as D. pictus,
Rana, N. maura and freshwater turtles. The landscape seems
to have alternated between areas with vegetation cover type
or bushy scrubland and more or less open areas.
Further excavations and the ongoing multidisciplinary
studies will certainly provide additional data on the
paleontological significance of the site, and without doubt
will bring more information details of the vertebrate
Quaternary vertebrate fauna from Guenfouda.
Acknowledgements
These investigations conducted by the University Center forArchaeological Research (CURA), fall under the GlobalResearch Project (PGR), funded by the University Mohamed1er, Oujda, for the recovery of the archaeological heritage ofEastern Morocco. J.M.L.-G. has been supported by a postdoctoralcontract of the Subprogram Juan de la Cierva (Spanish Ministryof Science and Innovation).
References
Aouraghe H. 2001. Contribution a la connaissance des faunes duPleistocene superieur du Maroc: les Vertebres d’El Harhoura(Temara) compares a ceux de plusieurs sites du Maghreb.Paleontologie, Archeozoologie, Paleoenvironnement, Biochronolo-gie. These d’Etat, Universite, Mohamed 1er, Oujda, 494 p.
Aouraghe H, Abassi M. 2002. Les rongeurs du site aterien d’El Harhoura1 (Temara, Maroc). Quaternaire. 13(2):125–136.
Aouraghe H, Gagnepain J, Haddoumi H, El Hammouti K, Oujaa A,Bouzouggar A. 2005. Nouveau site archeologique dans le MarocOriental (grotte de Guenfouda). Premiers resultats, 3 eme Rencontredes Quaternaristes Marocains (RQM3), Marrakech, 15–17 novem-bre 2005, Pre-actes: 21–22.
Aouraghe H, Gagnepain J, Haddoumi H, El Hammouti K, Ouchaou B,Bailon S, Mestour B, Oujaa A, Bouzouggar A, Billy A. 2008. Lagrotte prehistorique de Guenfouda, Maroc oriental: les premiersresultats (fouilles 2004–2007). Actes de la 4eme Rencontre desQuaternaristes Marocains (RQM4). Publications de la Faculte desSciences d’Oujda. 2:299–319.
Aulagnier S. 1992. Zoogeographie des Mammiferes du Maroc: del’analyse specifique a la typologie de peuplement a l’echelleregionale., Doctorat d’Etat, Universite de Montpellier II, 235 p.
Bernoussi R. 1997. Contribution a l’etude paleontologique etobservations archeozoologiques pour deux sites du Pleistocenemoyen du Maroc atlantique: la grotte a Hominides de la carriereThomas 1 et la grotte des Rhinoceros de la carriere Oulad Hamida 1(Casablanca, Maroc). These Doct. Universite de Bordeaux 1, 265 p.
Bons J, Genier Ph. 1996. Amphibiens et reptiles du Maroc Atlasbiogeographique. In: Montori A, Roca V, editors. AsociacionHerpetologica Espanola. 319 p.
Callou C. 1997. Diagnose differentielle des principaux elementssquelettiques du lapin (genre Oryctolagus) et du lievre (genreLepus) en Europe occidentale. Fiches d’osteologie animale pourl’Archeologie, serie B: Mammiferes. 8:1–24.
Merzoug S. 2005. Comportement de subsistance des Iberomaurusiensd’apres l’analyse archeozoologique des mammiferes de Tamar Hat,Taza 1 et Columnata (Algerie). These de Doctorat du MuseumNational d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 414 p.
Michel P. 1990. Contribution a l’etude paleontologique des vertebresfossiles du quaternaire marocain a partir de sites du Maroc atlantique,central et oriental. These de Doctorat du Museum Nationald’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 1152 p.
Mouhsine T. 1997. Etude de la faune de la grotte Ifri el Baroud (Riforiental). Contribution a la connaissance de la Palethnologie, laPaleoecologie et la Biogeographie (fouilles 1995–1996). Memoirede CES a l’INSAP, Rabat.
Mouhsine T. 2003. Contribution a la connaissance de la faune duPleistocene superieur du Rif oriental: la grotte Ifri N’Ammar.Paleontologie, Archeozoologie, Paleoecologie, Biochronologie etBiogeographie. These de 3eme Cycle a l’INSAP, Rabat, 305 p., 30 pl.
Ouchaou B. 2000. Les faunes mammalogiques holocenes des gisements dunord du Maroc: etude paleontologique et observations archeozoologi-ques. These d’Etat, Universite Moulay Ismaıl, Meknes, 369 p.
Peters J, Van Neer W, Plug I. 1997. Comparative postcranial osteology ofHartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), Scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah)and addax (Addax nasomaculatus), with notes on the osteometry ofgemsbok (Oryx gazella) and arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). Ann SciZool. Musee Royale de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique280:1–83.
Figure 8. Comparative dimensions (height of external side) ofastragals of A. buselaphus mm. (1) Michel (1990), (2) Aouraghe(2001), (3) Ouchaou (2000), (4) Mouhsine (1997), (5) Mouhsine(2003), (6) Merzoug (2005) and (7) Peters et al. (1997).
Figure 9. Partial sketch of the Neolithic burial from Guenfouda(Haddoumi).
H. Aouraghe et al.326
Downloaded By: [Museum National D'historie Naturelle] At: 07:04 28 May 2010