The Oued Beht Archaeological Project has been awarded the 2025 Field Discovery Award by the Shanghai Archaeology Forum (SAF), one of the most prestigious international platforms for archaeological research, established by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
The award was conferred following a highly competitive selection process: 119 valid nominations were submitted to the 2025 SAF Awards Programme, and the Oued Beht Archaeological Project was selected in recognition of the exceptional scholarly value of its fieldwork and its significant contribution to archaeological research.
The award was officially presented during the 6th Shanghai Archaeology Forum, held in Shanghai from 15 to 18 December 2025, where the project was also featured within the Forum’s scientific programme.
Located in north-central Morocco and dated between 3400 and 2900 BC, the Oued Beht site has yielded extraordinary evidence for what is currently the oldest and most extensive agricultural complex known in Africa beyond the Nile Valley. These discoveries provide unprecedented insights into the development of large-scale farming, social organisation, and landscape management in the Maghreb during late prehistory, challenging long-standing narratives that have marginalised North Africa in broader discussions of Mediterranean social complexity.
These results are the outcome of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project, an international and multidisciplinary initiative launched in 2021 under a scientific cooperation programme involving the Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP, Morocco), the Institute of Heritage Science of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISPC), the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge (UK), and ISMEO – The International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (Italy).
On the Italian side, the project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), and the CNR.
The international team is co-directed by Giulio Lucarini (CNR-ISPC and ISMEO), Cyprian Broodbank (University of Cambridge), and Youssef Bokbot (INSAP). Commenting on the SAF award, Lucarini stated:
“We are honoured to receive the Field Discovery Award and sincerely thank the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the entire SAF evaluation committee for this important recognition. This award highlights the originality and international significance of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project and affirms the value of sustained, long-term collaboration. Oued Beht demonstrates that the Maghreb was not on the margins of history, but at the forefront of innovation in early agricultural and social systems in the Mediterranean basin. Beyond its scientific impact, Oued Beht also reminds us that archaeological knowledge is fragile and time-sensitive. This recognition reinforces our commitment to documenting, protecting, and interpreting this heritage responsibly, ensuring that the rich history of the Maghreb is preserved and accessible for generations to come.”
