Waste dumped at Boulemane archaeological site with 165-million-year-old dinosaur remains sparks frustration

Waste dumped across different parts of the El Mers archaeological site in Boulemane Province, known for the dinosaur remains dating back more than 165 million years, is causing growing frustration among visitors and tour guides.

The site contains more than 433 dinosaur footprints and 29 trackways across six locations, left by sauropods, theropods, and crocodilians during the Middle Jurassic period.

Yet, the dump, reportedly located near the Mers commune and local administration, has upset many people, who say it’s tarnishing the image of the archeological site visited by tourists.

One person said on Facebook, “Unfortunately, the smell there is unbearable, especially when temperatures rise.” In contrast, another one, who also visited the area, said that the problem is not only about the waste, but also a lack of awareness and responsibility toward the environment.”

Mohcine El Madmous, a certified tour guide who shared a video on his Facebook account criticizing the amount of waste in the area, emphasized that waste dumped near the dinosaur site doesn’t reflect its archaeological value or the area’s tourism and environmental potential.

He questioned how the area could attract visitors and promote its heritage while its archeological sites are not kept clean.

The waste “we find along the way is a real disaster,” El Madmous told Hespress English, emphasizing that whenever he visits the area with a tourist or a scientific expedition, he finds that “the amount of waste keeps increasing.”

He warned that the waste is damaging not only the archeological site and dinosaur remains but also local water sources, as the site is close to a river that flows into the M’Dez dam.

The El Mers geological site is also located near the Skoura Mdaz commune, a major tourist destination known for its waterfalls, monuments, and historical castles such as Taferdoust and Taghaout.

Footage shared with Hespress English shows bottles and empty egg trays, plastic bags, and diapers scattered around the archeological site.

“No matter what you show a tourist, when they see all that waste, it ruins the whole experience,” El Madmous emphasized, who is working to promote the area and its geological trails to encourage local tourism.

He noted that the waste also affects scientific expeditions that visit the site to make discoveries, saying its historical value still encourages them to visit despite the situation.