The exhibition, a brainchild of the Ministry of Culture, started on Thursday and ran for another couple of days. Minister of Culture, Youth and Communication, Mr Mehdi Bensaid, and    the research team witnessed the presentation at the exhibition, in the presence of Royal Advisor Andre Azoulay and ambassadors of various countries, who came to see the discoveries for the first time.

The search team, made up of Moroccan and foreign scientists, discovered 32 marine pieces made of a seashell called Tritia Gibbosula, formerly known as Nassarius Gibbosulus, making up one of   the world’s oldest pieces of jewellery so far. The seashells were most likely used by humans as ornamental necklaces, which indicates a very ancient symbolic behaviour, according to   researchers.

Bensaid said the Ministry of Culture arranged the event in celebration of Independence Day – 18 November – noting that this great  discovery in Essaouira reflects the important history of human civilization’s early years in North Africa, and precisely in    Morocco.

He added that “such discoveries contribute to the unveiling of human history as a whole, and makes Moroccans aware of the ample treasures  the Kingdom has to offer the world.”

Royal Adviser Andre Azoulay described the moment as “significant,” praising the Minister for choosing Chellah to mark the event. Azoulay also expressed gratitude to the scientists for their efforts and hard  work, which spanned years.

Azoulay added, in a statement to Hespress AR, that “this discovery will contribute to the re-examination of historic facts, especially in regards to communication between different human groups of the era.” Abdeljalil Bouzoukar, professor of higher education at the National  Institute of Archeology and Heritage in Rabat, said that “this     discovery carries great symbolism.”

Bozukar added that “symbolic tools, unlike artefacts, can only be communicated through language,” and therefore these symbols are linked to language, which suggests that we are at the cusp of language introduced in the history of human civilization.
 The Moroccan researcher explained that such discoveries “highlight the beginning of the formation of collective identities,” as the spread of such marine seashells dates back 35,000 years.