View across four excavation units, looking west across an area interpreted as a metallurgical workshop. An anvil stone (GS 09-01) sits insitu in the foreground in unit 50N 2W. In the northwest corner of the same unit (below the roll of red flagging tape, right), the remains of a partially excavated burned feature interpreted as a forge are visible. A pottery jar (NK 09-686), lidded with a broken rounded base of another pot, is visible in the next unit (50N 4W). It sits adjacent to another burned feature in the unit's northwest corner (behind the pot, not visible in this photo). The jar is overlaid by another burned feature (visible as a layer of orange soil). A second pot (NK 09-685), to the left of the first, is covered by a flat stone (GS 09-13) whose lower surface shows evidence of grinding. A larger flat U-shaped grinding stone (GS 09-12) sits insitu atop a soil pedestal in the northeast corner of the next unit (50N 6W). To the south (left) of the stones, a partially exposed jar rim (NK 09-749) is visible close to the eastern edge of unit 50N 6W). Behind it, a large anvil/grinding stone (GS 09-15; faintly visible because it blends into the surrounding soil color) is partially exposed, with a smaller hammer/grinding stone (GS 09-16) sitting in front and left (south) of the large stone. A smaller grinding stone (GS 09-19; upper left of photo) has been pedestaled insitu in the farthest unit (50N 8W). Subsequent excavations in unit 50N 8W revealed a series of burned features in its northwest corner. A two meter yellow tape is extended along the edge of unit 50N 4W (right). Site Ngre Kataa. 24 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Units 50N, 2 to 8 W, various levels
A boulder used as an anvil stone (GS 09-07) sits insitu in an excavated area interpreted as a metallurgical workshop. A black-and-white photo scale stick stands vertically against it. The boulder's upper surface shows signs of use wear and its north-facing side is marked by a cup-shaped depression that resulted from repeated use. To the north (left; center photo), a fist-sized hammer stone (GS 09-09) rests insitu on a pedestal of soil left in place as the unit was excavated. Another stone that shows evidence of use as a grinding stone sits nearby (GS 09-10; left in photo). The narrow band of loose soil angled across the southwest corner of the excavation unit (right of photo) was created by a burrowing animal. Photo stick and small arrow scale in 5 cm intervals; large arrow in 10 cm intervals. Photo scale arrows pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 2 June 2009.
Three burned features are visible at the base of level 6 in unit 46N 2W. Two circular features (F1, right & F2, left) have been cross-sectioned, creating a straight edge. Burned feature 3 is an irregularly shaped (rectangular) area pedestaled on the east (right) side of the excavation unit. Along the unit's west wall (left) is an unexcavated rectangular area. Within this matrix was a perforated pot (NK 09-789) lidded with the pedestal base from another pot. The perforated pot contained cowries and small fragments of iron. In units to the north (behind), a row of insitu anvil stones (GS 09-03, -09-02 and 09-01, near to far) is visible in units 48N 2W and 50N 2W. To the east (right) of these, a flat grinding stone (GS 09-08) and an anvil stone (GS 09-06) can be seen insitu in units 48N 0W and 50N 0W. A pottery jar (NK 09-790) rests insitu in the center of unit 50N 0W. To the left of the archaeologist in the blue shirt (Abass Iddrisu), a flat grinding stone (GS 09-12) and a pot (NK 09-685) lidded with a grinding stone (GS 09-13) are visible on the boundary between units 50N 4-6W. Excavation units measure 2 x 2 meters. Site Ngre Kataa. 24 June 2009.
Partial iron projectile point, the tip of the head (left) broken off. The base of the head forms a right angle barb with the short tang. The tang (right) would have been inserted into a shaft made of bamboo, reed or lightweight wood to form an arrow. This point was found in an area (mound 7) that archaeologists interpret as a house mound. The artifact is corroded by rust. Scale in cm. Length: 9.1 cm. Weight: 13.6 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 4 June 2009.
Flat, thin iron disk (SF 09-159). The object is corroded by rust and its edges notched in two spots. Its function is unknown. The disc was found in a cluster (cluster D) with an iron bangle (SF 09-158) and two stones whose surfaces showed evidence of grinding. The cluster was part of a wider feature (clusters A-D) that archaeologists interpret as a shrine, which overlaid stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop (mound 6). Scale in cm. Width: 8.1 cm. Thickness: .2 cm. Weight: 29.8 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 June 2009.
A tri-looped iron bangle (SF 09-158). The bangle was formed from a single round iron rod, looped three times at the top (detail, left). The rod is joined with a single twist at the base, with each end of the rod overlaid by a thin iron strap (bottom), causing slight thickening on either side of the twisted base. The bangle was found in close association with a flat iron disc (SF 09-159) and two stones whose surfaces showed evidence of grinding (cluster D). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) in a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 8.5 cm. Weight: 30.2 g. Ngre Kataa. 9 June 2009.
A large insitu anvil/grinding stone in an area interpreted by archaeologists as a metallurgical workshop (two views). It is associated with several smaller stones that show signs of use as grinding or hammer stones. On the northwest side of the large stone (GS 09-15) is a partial pottery vessel--unusual for its layered construction (NK 09-787). Sitting adjacent to the partial pot are two flat iron discs (larger one, above in photo 1, SF 09-370 and smaller, below in photo 1, SF 90-371). A smaller grinding stone (GS 09-24) sits northeast of the anvil stone, positioned with its grinding surface down. It rested on top of a pottery jar (NK 09-788) which was exposed in the next excavation level. An area of fire-hardened sediment to the southeast of the anvil stone (photo 2) is interpreted as part of a forging feature. Photo scale bar in 5 cm increments. Photo arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 4 July 2009.
View from above of an insitu grinding stone (GS 08-03) and a pottery jar (NK 08-176) at the base of excavation level 3 in an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The grinding stone has a concave upper surface, partly obscured by unexcavated soil. Roots and rootlets are visible on the right side of the photo. Photo stick marked in 5 cm increments. Arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 1 July 2008.
Photo of a globular pottery jar (NK 08-176) found in an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The pot was found sitting next to a large grinding stone (GS 08-03). The jar's lip is slightly everted and its upper surface is undecorated. A horizontal band of contiguous diagonal impressions marked in alternating directions ("/\/\") appears above the jar's rounded shoulder. Its lower body and base are darkened and surface treated with fiber roulette impression. Rim diameter: 18cm at exterior lip. Vessel height (base to rim): 17 cm. Photo scale in cm. Site Ngre Kataa. 1 July 2008.
Iron projectile point fragment. The elongated head (left) has a single barb at its base and a short tang (right). The point has been corroded by rusting. Scale in cm. Length: 11.3 cm. Weight: 14 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 26 June 2008.