The monument was probably not mentioned or hinted at in any known ancient texts other than the aforementioned indirect hint in Plutarch's Parallel Lives. In 1831, it drew the attention of the British adventurer Sir Arthur Coppel De Brooke who mentioned it in his book Sketches in Spain and Morocco with an illustration. In 1846, it was mentioned by French author and geologist Émilien Renou in his book Description Géographique de L'Empire de Maroc.