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The Iberomaurusian refers both to an archaeological industry and a people. The Iberomaurusians as a people are characterized as very robust and as such are reminiscent of previous Aterian populations. In fact, it has been suggested there is an in situ evolution from Mousterian and Aterian peoples to the Iberomaurusians. Archaeologically, however, it seems the Iberomaurusian constitutes a clear break with the technological traditions of the Aterian. First of all, unlike the Aterian, the distribution of this industry seems confined to the broad coastal regions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunesia. Further, the archaeological material has a significant microlithic aspect to it including numerous backed bladelets. Since in Témara clear sequences including Iberomaurusian and Aterian layers are absent except for those at la grotte des Contrebandiers, the site will allow us to directly compare the two industries and examine the transition carefully in a single setting.
content provided by Utsav Schurmans from the Rapport D'Operations Pour l'Année 2006