Archaeological Investigations on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria: A Case

Study of Lankan
Macham Mangut and J.O. Aleru
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

University of Ibadan

Abstract
This paper reports recent archaeological investigations in Lankan (the ancestral home
of the Ron people) on the Jos Plateau in Nigeria. Most of the early settlements were
located on hill tops. The study revealed that human occupation in Lankan predates the
17th century and there was continuity in the occupation of the area from the past to
present. It also confirms the existence of cultural connections between Ronland and
Lankan. Despite their differences, the different groups in Lankan interacted not only
among themselves but also with their neighbours through trade. This study has,
therefore, added to our understanding of the emergence of the Ron as a people. It has
as well added to our understanding of early human occupation and inter-group
relations on the Jos Plateau.
Keywords: Ron, Lankan, Jos Plateau, Inter-group relations.