The 2012 spring campaign of sub-project C2 was dedicated to the excavation of Ifri n'Etsedda, NE-Morocco.
Discovered in 2008, the shelter was already scanned in 2010 by a team from RWTH Aachen using a LIDAR 3D scanner in order to create ultra high-resolution DTMs.
https://www.nug.rwth-aachen.de/index.php?p=Neotektonik
During the same field season, GEORADAR measurements were also applied in order to reveal the thickness of anthropogenous sediments. The results of this study were subject of a BA thesis by Peter Weller (Aachen).
https://www.nug.rwth-aachen.de/index.php?p=Galerie&main_action=show&main_galerie=22&
On the basis of the geophysical measurements, we commenced archaeological excavations in 2012. In two 2x1 m trenches, deposits from different Neolithic periods were excavated. Due to the fact that all sediment had to be flotated, the entire material was taken down valley by donkey. All analyses are still on-going, however, preliminary results are promising. Besides remains of domesticated plants and animals, a huge amount of wild species was detected, indicating subsistence strategies with high percentage of hunting and gathering activities. Excavations will be continued in 2013 with the aim to study deposits of earlier periods.
 The shelter of Ifri n'Etsedda (see tent for scale). Photo: Stephanie Braun |
 Ifri n'Etsedda during excavation. Martin Kehl while taking micromorphology samples (right). Photo: Tamara Ruske |
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 Sediment transport down valley by a mule called "Cheval". Photo: Jörg Linstädter |
 Neolithic pottery providing incised and impressed Cardium decoration (rocker stamp technique).Photo: Manuel Broich |
