Waja

Mejiro Rockshelter: Revisiting the Later Stone Age Sequence in

Oyo-Ile, Nigeria
Akinwumi Ogundiran
Department of Africana Studies,

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223 (USA)

[email protected]
Okopi Ade

Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies,
University of Jos, Jos (Nigeria)
[email protected]

Abstract
The first scientific excavation in Oyo-Ile (1956-57) took place in Mejiro Rockshelter,
where Frank Willett uncovered the Later Stone Age and Yoruba (Oyo) occupation
levels. In this article, we seek to resolve two issues raised by Frank Willett, which were
not satisfactorily answered in his reports. First, Willett proposed that there was a
ceramic LSA level in the archaeological sequence. Second, hesuggested that there was
an encounter between the LSA and the later Yoruba populations. Our stratigraphic
excavations, carried out in the dripline of the rockshelter in 2018, have now clarified
the relationships between these two occupation phases. In this study, we discuss why
we excavated the Mejiro rockshelter. We then describe the stratigraphic sequence of
the two units that we excavated in 2018 and the typological attributes of the
microlithic assemblage. The findings enable us to resolve the puzzle raised in Frank
Willett’s work. First, there was no ceramic LSA in the archaeological sequence,and
the microlithic technology in Oyo-Ile could only have supporteda hunting-gathering
subsistence economy. Second, we conclude that there was no encounter between the
LSA and Oyo populations. The two occupations were separated by a hiatus of two or
more millennia. The results provide a new framework for the study of the LSA
sequence in Oyo-Ile.

Investigation into Site Re-Occupation Mechanism in Ijaye-Orile, Southwest

Nigeria: A Theoretical Approach.
Akinbowale M. AKINTAYO
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
[email protected]

1.1 Introduction
Ijaye-Orile was one of the kingdoms that reigned in the Yoruba forest regions in the
late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. However, external aggression from
contemporary kingdoms led to a war which resulted into the sacking of the kingdom.
What followed was the abandonment of the settlement with many people fleeing to seek
asylum at nearby towns. This ultimately led to the desolation of the Ijaye-Orile with
just few inhabitants. The relics from archaeological expeditions in the settlement
attested to the fact that it was an established kingdom with its sphere of influence
reaching as far as Oke-Ogun area of present-day Oyo State, Nigeria (Figure 2).
Both Abeokuta-Oyo and the north-west routes linked Ijaye-Orile with the coast of
Lagos. Goods such as beads, camwood, shea butter (Butyrospermum paradoxum), and
food crops were exported from Ijaye-Orile through these routes (Folorunso &
Olayinka, 1997; Johnson, 1921). In addition, owing to its location, people from

different routes come to Ijaye-Orile to buy and sell and this accounted for why Ijaye-
Orile grew and became a big town before the war. To buttress the fact that Ijaye-Orile

was famous and known to be great producers of food items, during the period of the
popular Fulani war which displaced many Yoruba settlements like Ikoyi, Ika Odan
Esiele, etc., some of the displaced persons who had become fugitives were said to have
requested to buy food items in Ijaye-Orile while passing by, but the then Onijaye,
Mokaye Oyeniran, disagreed and did not grant the people permission to pass through
Ijaye-Orile to procure food items and this resulted in war which led to the sacking of
Ijaye-Orile. (Onaolapo 2013, pers. comm.).

60 Years of Archaeological Research and Practice in Southeast Nigeria:

An Appraisal

By

Edwin E. Okafor

Department of Archaeology and Tourism

University of Nigeria Nsukka

[email protected],

Elochukwu A. Nwankwo

Department of Archaeology and Tourism

University of Nigeria Nsukka

[email protected]

And

John U. Ngonadi

Department of Archaeology and Tourism

University of Nigeria Nsukka

[email protected]

Abstract

The advent of archaeology in Southeast Nigeria can be traced to the famous Igbo-Ukwu excavations in 1961 by Professor Thurstan Shaw and his team. Since then, the discipline has unravelled many other archaeological sites in the region. This study was aimed at looking at the archaeological research in Southeast Nigeria since 1961 with a view to understand the various progress, contributions, challenges and prospect of the discipline in the region. So many archaeological researches have been conducted in the region since inception with remarkable contributions. The famous Igbo-Ukwu bronze pot dated to 9th BC, discovery of similar Acheulian tools at Ugwuelle, the discovery of the oldest iron working technology in West Africa in Lejja, among others. Archaeological research has contributed significantly to culture preservation and identity promotion of the region, and the consequential impact on the world archaeological map. Some challenges like poor funding, inadequate facilities, obsolete legislation, and poor public/community support, among others were identified as the challenges of archaeological research in Southeast Nigeria since inception in 1961. Practical recommendations like establishment of more archaeology departments in the region, institution of government special intervention scheme, public awareness and academic publications, support for regular students’ field school, systematic public/community orientation and involvement, among others, were recommended to consolidate archaeological research and practice in Southeast Nigeria. This study has implications for improved and sustainable archaeological research and practice in Southeast Nigeria.

Keywords: Archaeological research and practice, sites, museums; iron smelting; Excavations and reports.

Ethnographic Study of the TarokTraditionalMarriage System in

Plateau State, Nigeria

By

Victoria Stephen Nimzing

Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies,

University of Jos

[email protected]

Abstract

Marriage, all over the world is a subject of rapid change, and Tarok land is no exception has become imperative and urgent. Human beings throughout the world are concerned with the need to get married. This is in realization that marriage is the basis for procreation. Among the Tarok, marriage is the discernible and most encompassing reality of life. It is not something contracted at the individuals wish and convenience, but as something of sacred obligation. Due to alien religions, most Tarok people prefer to be married in the Christian or Muslim way rather than marrying traditionally. This research aims primarily to examine the traditional marriage custom of the Tarok people of Plateau State of Nigeria with emphasis on Courtship, Pre-marital Requirements, the Marriage Proper and the Post Marital Matters.

Keywords: Courtship, Marriage Requirements, Change, Sacred, Tarok.

Contexte actuel des sites et vestiges métallurgiques de la région du Gbêkê au

centre de la Côte d’Ivoire : cas du canton Kpekplessou
HOUPHOUËT Gnankou Florent Sosthène1

Doctorant
0022559318130
[email protected]

/

KIENON-KABORE Timpoko Hélène2
Professeur Titulaire d’Archéologie
[email protected]
(Unité Pédagogique archéologie)

Institut des Sciences Anthropologiques de Développement (ISAD)
Université Félix Houphouët-BoignyCocody-Abidjan- Côte d’Ivoire)
Résumé
De 2013 jusqu’à présent, des recherches archéologiques portant sur la sidérurgie
directe ont été entreprises au centre de la Côte d’ivoire dans la région du Gbêkê,
précisément dans le canton Kpekplessou, situé au nord-est de la ville de Bouaké.
Ces recherches dans cette zone se sont effectuées par le biais de vaste prospection
archéologique qui a permis d’établir un inventaire de sept (7) sites sidérurgiques
composés de quinze (15) bases de fourneaux et de vingt-un (21) amas composés de
scorie et de fragments de tuyères repartis dans dix (10) villages.
Ces vestiges sidérurgiques se trouvent dans des conditions de détérioration très
avancées et subissent au quotidien des actions naturelles et humaines qui favorisent
leur dégradation. À cela, il faut ajouter une végétation galopante qui menace la survie
de ces vestiges.
Cependant, aucune action n’est entreprise allant dans le sens de la préservation et de
la sauvegarde de ces sites et vestiges sidérurgiques qui constituent des éléments du
patrimoine archéologique ivoirien.
De ce fait, la protection de ce patrimoine doit se faire par la mise en application de la
loi, par la sensibilisation des populations, par la mise en place d’émissions portant sur
la valorisation et la protection du patrimoine archéologique, et par le biais de
l’archéologie préventive.

Mots-clés : Archéologie – sidérurgie –Protection- valorisation–Patrimoine-
Kpekplessou

Les sites de la métallurgie du fer de la région du Folon au nord-ouest de la Côte

d’Ivoire
KOBENAN AttaBradjé Jacob

Docteur en Archéologie, Membre de l’équipe de recherche
« Archéologie Technique et Patrimoine (A.T.Pa) », Côte d’Ivoire

[email protected]
BALLO Djalia

Doctorante en Archéologie (ISAD),
Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny – Côte d’Ivoire,

[email protected]

Résumé
Jusqu’au début du XXe siècle, le nord-ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire a été une zone
deproduction du fer.Cette activité sidérurgique a laissé des traces, témoins de travail
du fer dans certaines localités de la région du Folon.
Dès 2012, des recherches archéologiques sont menéesdans les villages des
départements de Minignan et de Kaniasso (région du Folon). Ces recherches sont
effectuées par le biais de la prospection archéologique.L’étude des vestiges
métallurgiques à travers des fouilles a permis d’identifier clairement 3 traditions
techniques et à contribuer à la connaissance de l’histoire de la métallurgie du fer.
Cette présente étude s’inscrit dans la continuité des recherches déjà entamées. Nos
investigations ont permisd’identifier 34 sites métallurgiques composés de
puitsd’exploitation de minerai de fer, des fourneaux, des scories et des tuyères.
Mots-clés : Archéologie – métallurgie du fer – technique–Folon

Décors et fonctions des récipients Kpimblé : un patrimoine senoufo quasi

méconnu dans le nord de la Côte d’Ivoire

TOURE Gninin Aïcha

Unité Pédagogique d’Archéologie de l’Institut des Sciences Anthropologiques
de Développement (ISAD) Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Cocody-Abidjan- Côte d’Ivoire / [email protected]

Résumé
Longtemps utilisée par les populations pour divers besoins, la céramique est, au-delà
d’un simple objet, un patrimoine. A Korhogo, dans le nord de la Côte d’Ivoire, la
confection des récipients céramiques est l’apanage de la gente féminine dite Kpimblé,
sous-groupe Senoufo. Cette activité qui se transmet de génération en génération

demeure un legs ancestral chez ces peuples. Les récipients qui découlent du savoir-
faire céramique, sont pour la plupart décorés. Ainsi, loin d’être seulement de

l’esthétique, les décors ont parfois des significations particulièresdues souvent à
l’usage du vase.
L’objectif de l’étude est donc de faire ressortir le lien fonctions-décorsdes récipients
céramiques afin de comprendre la vie sociale deces Senoufo.
Pour ce faire, nous avons procédé à des enquêtes orales, et à l’identification des
récipients céramiques décorés.
L’étude nous a permis de savoir que les décors sont liés àtrois(3) différentes fonctions.
Mots clés : Décors, Fonctions, Récipients céramiques, Senoufo-Kpimblé, Patrimoine,
Korhogo.