A National Rock Art Heritage Center mission has uncovered and documented a previously unstudied rock art site in Tafraout El Mouloud, Tiznit province, featuring remarkably detailed engravings of domesticated cattle. Named «Assif n'izgaren» or «Valley of the Cows», the site reflects centuries of human presence and artistic expression, adding a significant new chapter to Morocco's rock art heritage. The surveying and documentation of remarkable rock engravings depicting domesticated cattle in the rural commune of Tafraout El Mouloud, a commune in Morocco's Tiznit province, mark a significant new step in the country's rock art heritage mapping. According to the National Rock Art Heritage Center (CNPR) in Agadir, which has been responsible for documenting, studying, and protecting Morocco's rock art since its creation in 1994, a recent mission uncovered a previously unstudied site known locally as Tiwinght. The researchers have proposed naming the site «Assif n'izgaren», or «Valley of the Cows», in reference to the dominant motif found in the engravings. Rock engravings depicting domesticated cattle in Tafraout El Mouloud, in Morocco's Tiznit province. / Ph. Centre National du Patrimoine Rupestre- Facebook «The engravings that adorn the site stand out for their precision and detailed depictions of domesticated cattle in various sizes», noted the CNPR in a statement shared to its Facebook page on Thursday. «Some figures are layered over others, indicating a continued human presence over time», the mission noted, adding «This invites a stratigraphic reading that could shed light on the region's climatic history and reveal how humans refined their skills, not only in drawing and engraving, but also in the art of living and drawing inspiration from their environment». «A lasting fascination with stone surfaces» The Center noted that the mission in question, consisting of CNPR director Montassir Loukili, researchers Abdelhadi Ewague and Jamal El Boukaa, and two local residents, Lahcen and Brahim, visited the «Valley of the Cows» on July 30. The team was struck by the richness, diversity, and artistic complexity of the carvings, which had never before been referenced, studied, or cataloged in any prior research. Rock engravings depicting a car in Tafraout El Mouloud, in Morocco's Tiznit province. / Ph. Centre National du Patrimoine Rupestre- Facebook In addition to the ancient engravings, the team also noted the presence of more recent carvings depicting modern symbols such as cars from the 1980s and human faces. According to the CNPR, these modern additions suggest «a lasting fascination with stone surfaces and their deep-rooted presence in the collective imagination, from ancient times to the present day». By surveying and documenting the «Valley of the Cows», the CNPR has added a new cornerstone to Morocco's rock art heritage. The Center expressed hope that this site, like others before it, will gain the recognition it deserves, be properly preserved, and remain accessible to future generations eager to explore the country's cultural and archaeological treasures.
