An iron bangle (SF 09-132) made from a flattened iron rod with overlapping ends. One end of the bangle is bent inward. The bangle occurred as an isolated find in the upper levels of an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The bangle has been corroded by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 7.9 cm. Weight: 25.6 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 6 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with clusters B and C of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine that capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Cluster B encompassed the objects on the south (right) side of the photo, west of (below) the tree stump. To the right of the black-and-white photo stick (lower right) is an iron spike (SF 09-174), a half bangle (SF 09-173) and a slightly curved iron disc (SF 09-172) in a carefully placed composition. Immediately to the east (above in the photo), an aglomeration of pottery sherds is stacked. Later excavation revealed a pedestal-handled pottery lid, dog skull and jaw bones carefully placed below these sherds in cluster B. Cluster C encompassed the artifacts to the north (left) of the tree stump. These included a series of pottery lids, portions of single pottery jar and sherds from other pots. An iron bangle (SF 09-148) is visible above and slightly left of the top photo scale, sitting adjacent to a pottery lid (NK 09-381) lying with its interior surface up. This wider shrine assemblage overlaid burned features associated with metalworking activities. Black-and-white photo scale in 5 cm increments. Arrows pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
A curved, tanged iron blade (brɔfiɛn in Nafaanra), slightly shouldered at the base (right), with a short narrow tang for the purpose of hafting to a wood handle. The tool shows signs of corrosion. The artfiact was excavated from a house mound. Scale in cm. Length: 19.1 cm. Weight: 54.7 g. Ngre Kataa, 4 June, 2009.
Miniature iron shackles (manacles). The artifact was excavated from a context that archaeologists interpret as a shrine located in metallurgical workshop. The shrine included many pottery jars and lids, iron bangles and other objects. The miniature shackles were placed inside a pottery jar, which was found lying on its side and broken. The shackles have been corroded by rust. Scale in cm. Width: 7.4 cm. Weight: 16.1 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9-10 June, 2009.
Iron projectile point, the head of which (left) has a rounded base. Two small barbs project from the point's long tang. To make an arrow (snini in Nafaanra), the tang was inserted into a straight shaft made of bamboo, reed or lightweight wood to which it was hafted. This artifact was found in an area that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop, in the vicintiy of anvil and grinding stones and features interpreted as forges. The projectile point shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Length: 15.2 cm. Weight: 16 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 4 June, 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 50N 6W, Level 5. Piece plot 68-79 cm S, 22-23 cm W, 110 cmbd
Triangular-headed iron projectile point with squared base (left) and long tang (right). To make an arrow (snini in Nafaanra), the tang was inserted into a straight shaft made of bamboo, reed or lightweight wood to which it was hafted. This artifact was excavated from what archaeologists interpret as a house mound. It shows signs of corrosion by rust. Scale in cm. Length: 9.6 cm. Weight: 12.6 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 3 June, 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 7, Unit 10N 30E, Level 6. Piece plot, 44 cm S, 127 cm W, 76 cmbd
Iron projectile point. The head (left) is asymmetrical, perhaps the result of its base being broken. The intact side of the base is shouldered. Two small barbs protrude from opposite sides of the point's long tang (right). To make an arrow, the tang would have been inserted into a shaft made of bamboo, reed or lightweight wood. This point was found in an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The artifact has been corroded by rusting. Scale in cm. Length: 10.1 cm. Weight: 8.9 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 4 June, 2009.
Asymmetrical barbed iron projectile point with a bent shaft. This artifact was found in an area that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. It was found near--and may have been part of--a large cluster of objects interpreted as a shrine. The (partial?) point has been corroded by rusting. Scale in cm. Length: 9.1 cm. Weight: 11.3 g. Site Ngre Kataa, 6 July 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 48N 8W, Level 6. Piece plot, 5 cm S, 5 cm W, 102 cm bd
Tanged iron blade with pointed tip (left) and rounded shoulders. Two large concretions adhere to the blade's corroded surface. The tang (right) would have allowed the blade to be hafted to a wooden or bamboo shaft or handle. If hafted to a long shaft, it may have been used as a spear (chombo in Nafaanra). This artifact was found closely associated with a copper alloy twinned figurine, an iron bangle, a rounded quartz pebble and several other objects, which archaeologists interpret as a shrine cluster. The cluster was placed among metal-working features in a metallurgical workshop. Scale in cm. Length: 8.6 cm. Weight: 12.6 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 19 July 2008.
A circular iron bangle, made from a rounded iron rod with abutting ends (bottom of photo). The bangle's surface is corroded by rust. This artifact was found closely associated with a copper alloy twinned figurine, a tanged iron blade, a rounded quartz pebble and several other objects, which archaeologists interpret as a shrine cluster. The cluster was placed among metal-working features in a metallurgical workshop.Scale in cm. Maximum diameter: 8.1 cm. Weight: 75 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 19 July 2008.