The oldest adornments ever found, perforated shells, were discovered in a limestone cave in eastern Morocco. These shells, some dyed with red ochre, were likely used as necklaces or bracelets 82,000 years ago. This discovery predates similar findings in Algeria, South Africa, and Palestine, showing that symbols were used in Africa long before Europe. The Moroccan government believes this find is significant in understanding cultural innovations and their impact on human history. Despite yielding important prehistoric discoveries, little is known about the humans who lived in Morocco before Berber farmers settled there over 2,000 years ago. A group of scientists from Morocco, Britain, France, and Germany discovered and dated the shells to investigate the impact of climate and landscape changes on human behavior from 130,000 to 13,000 years ago. Their research is part of a larger study on whether the Strait of Gibraltar served as a pathway or obstacle for early humans traveling between Africa and Europe.