The enigmatic Mzora stone ring in Morocco

Stone Pages ^ | Monday, January 31, 2011 | The Heritage Journal

[SunkenCiv]

In Morocco, not far from the Atlantic coast and away from major tourist attractions, lies a remarkable and enigmatic megalithic site. The Mzora stone ring (also spelled variously as Msoura/Mezorah) is situated roughly 11km from the nearest town of Asilah and about 27km from the ruins of ancient Lixus. It is not easy to reach and a small display in the archaeological museum at Tetouan is the most the majority of visitors see or hear of this very interesting site.

Plutarch, in the first century CE, may have referred to Mzora in his Life of Sertorius. He describes the Roman General Quintus Sertorius being told by local inhabitants about a site they knew as the tomb of the giant Antaeus who had been killed by Hercules. There are many other ancient accounts that place the tomb of Antaeus in close proximity to both Lixus and Tangier and it is quite plausible that Mzora is the inspiration behind these stories.

The site itself is a Neolithic ellipse of 168 surviving stones of the 175 originally believed to have existed.

[ApplegateRanch]

[Little Bill]

I have wondered the same thing. Why in a short time frame would cultures all over the world move a lot of rock to no good purpose, from our view point.

To me a little hunting and fishing with the old lady out in the fields getting some herbs and veggies is preferable to moving dirt and rock by hand.