Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Paysage désertique et géoarchéologie d'un géosystème littoral (VIIIème avant J.-C. _ XVIIIème siècles, Atlas atlantique, Maroc)

2011; Issue: 193 Linguagem: Inglês

2426-3974

Yves Claude Simone, Jean-Louis Ballais,

Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide

The diachronic analysis of aerial photographs concerning the coastal geosystem of Essaouira (fig. 1), points out a quick morphological evolution such as in around thirty years, except the states of surface, general form, that of the dunes as well as their distribution were changed in a consistent manner (fig. 2). In spite of the preponderance of morpho-climatic conditions, this transformation would not know to translate a « natural » dynamics, where anthropic activities would have no effects [Y Simone, 2007b]. In that case of study, the notion of coastal dunes must therefore join that of anthropic dunes [Y. Simone, 2007a]. The question of the signification of the environmental trajection operated here, settles then. It is about a fundamental question focused on the archaeology of the landscape to study relationships man / environment around the notion of desertification. A simple space technology allows to explore interface nature / culture in the Atlantic Atlas, term created by A. Weisrock [1993]. Some elements of answer can be brought by the geoarchaeology and modes of anthropisation. It is necessary to stop then on this last expression which contains the notion of way, lane, but also aesthetics and/or arts. For a geoarchaeological approach of desertification, the scientific position adopted here, is constructivism and possibilism but not catastrophism. Three notions underline environmental correlations: the geosystem, the desertification and the modes of anthropisation (fig. 4). Here on stereoscope Bosch and Lomb in CEREGE, the mapping is carried out from aerial photographs IGN in 50 000 th , mission n°17 of August 10 th 1953, in the field of the visible, for the first one; and from aerial photographs IFN in 20 000 th , mission n° 852 of December 1984, in the field of infrared, for the second. It points out a ternary partition of the space dynamics of the dunes-massif: general morphology, types and spatial distribution of sand dunes forms. In this ternary partition, it is added the urban expansion which leads to an evolution of contact with the city (fig. 2). According to Jodin [1966], the paleogeography of the site corresponds in a double archipelago formed by the actual islands of Mogador, and of another group of islands, which would have been attached to the continent and on that the actual city is built (fig. 4). Kjokkenmodings identified by Jodin [1957] contains pre-Roman rests and locate the end of the occupation of the site between 2800 and 2500 BP. These vestiges confirm the presence of phoenico-Punic culture on the islands of Amogdoul, Phoenician name of Mogador. By 2100 BP, at the end of a dune episode, Jodin [1957 and 1967] locates a new human permanent presence this time, by the discovery of fragments of amphorae, nails and of Roman hooks of copper. Presence confirmed there by the remains of a « comparatively luxurious villa with baths and mosaic ». Desjacques and Koeberle, [1955], acknowledge the common same techniques of usage in the II th century after, used in Volubilis and in Banasa. Except the Phoenician graffiti of « Mogador », the first written sources take back up from Pline the Ancient [I er century, trad. Desanges, 1980]. The naturalist recalls the reign of Juba II, and dyeings on Purpuraires islands. And Lopez Pardo [1987], recalls the notion of « industrial establishment » regarding the working of the purple. The presence of much more afforested areas than today is also certified.