A study published in The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology reveals that two fossils of brachiopods, marine creatures that lived millions of years ago, were found in a Roman archaeological site dated between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE on the island of Mogador, near Essaouira (Morocco).
These fossils, along with four others found in the 1960s inside an amphora, are not native to the island but must have been transported by the Romans from distant areas through ancient trade networks in North Africa.
Brachiopods are marine animals that existed between 145 and 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period. The specimens found in Mogador have been identified as Lamellaerhynchia rostriformis and were incredibly well preserved.
Curiously, the island of Mogador is made up of dunes that are only about two million years old, so these fossils could not have formed there. The origin of the brachiopods is not local, the study explains.
After analyzing their morphology and internal structure, researchers determined that they came from areas located about 50 km southeast of Mogador, where rocks from the Hauterivian period (between 132 and 129 million years ago) are abundant.
How Did These Fossils Get to Mogador?
The presence of these fossils in a Roman context raises the question why did the Romans transport them to the island? According to the study, there are several hypotheses. One of them explains that Mogador was a Roman outpost that depended on external supplies, including meat from sheep, goats, and other animals.
It is possible that local shepherds who roamed the areas where these fossils are found discovered them and brought them to the island out of curiosity or to trade them.
Another hypothesis relates to the timber trade. The Romans greatly valued sandarac wood, a tree typical of the region, so the fossils may have been transported along with this wood, since both the fossil and forest areas are nearby.
Lastly, in some cultures fossils were associated with magical or medicinal beliefs. For example, in ancient China they were used to treat illnesses, and in Europe it was believed that they had protective powers.
The researchers point out that fossil sea urchins and shark teeth, for example, are well documented as votive offerings and talismans in various Roman sites. The presence of specimens in a Roman amphora suggests a selective deposition, which could indicate a ceremonial use.
The island of Mogador was an important hub for trade from the Phoenician period (7th century BCE) to the Roman period (1st–4th centuries CE). The Phoenicians traded in ivory, hides, and purple dyes, while the Romans exploited resources such as sandarac wood, salt, and garum (the famous fish sauce).
The brachiopod fossils, although they had no obvious economic value, may have been part of this flow and exchange of goods and products.
The researchers conclude that our knowledge of the importance of fossils in Roman culture and commerce remains limited, especially in the field of invertebrate fossils. This topic is still understudied and requires more data. Further research could help to understand past transport routes and the nature of ancient Roman interest in fossils. More generally, the analysis of geological and paleontological objects found in archaeological excavations is underexplored and needs more scientific attention.
SOURCES
Lehmann, J., Küchelmann, H. C., Juhl, F., & Mutterlose, J. (2025). Fossil brachiopods from the Roman site on Mogador Island (Essaouira, Morocco): Implications for past exchange of products. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 1–25. doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2025.2485939
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