Improving African Futures Using Lessons from the Past

Copper alloy (brass) bar, Ngre Kataa, 2009


Description:
A piece of a copper alloy (brass) bar, found in association with burned features that archaeologists interpret as linked to metalworking (left: side view; right, end views). The bar is square in cross-section (right). One end appears finished and has a slight circular depression or dimple (bottom right). The other end (top right) is jagged and appears to be broken from a longer bar. The artifact was recovered from soil associated with an amorphous burned feature, underneath which were a series of burned basins likely created by forging activities. The object is similar in appearance to brass bars known from the Ma'adin Ijafen cache of brass ingots documented by Theodore Monod in eastern Mauritania in the 1960s. As such, this may be the form in which metalworkers got the copper alloys that were worked at the site. Length: 1.7 cm. Weight: 2.8 g. Scale in cm. Site Ngre Kataa. 25 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19110
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 50N 8W,Level 5. Piece plot: 198 cm W, 88 cm S, 110 cm bd
Date:
2009-06-25
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects Facet:
Archaeology; Artifacts (Antiquities); Copper alloys; Metalworkinig
Identifier:
SF 09-293
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-25
Archaeological Phase:
Ngre phase (late)
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Commentary:
Composite photo made using Adobe Photoshop 2020
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111