Yaw Frimpong uses a short-handled hoe with a wide blade to loosen and remove soil from an excavation unit (46N 8W) in mound 6 at Ngre Kataa. A second short-handled hoe with a narrower, thicker blade rests on the ground (foreground). To the right, colored flags mark artifacts previously excavated by Ben Nutour using a trowel and left insitu. Foreground is a coiled iron bangle/bracelet (SF 08-140), behind which is a partial large pottery bowl. Further excavations yielded a concentration of iron bangles and other objects suggestive of a shrine cluster in this and adjacent excavation units at mound 6. Ngre Kataa, 9 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.
A group of insitu artifacts interpreted by archaeologists as a shrine cluster, located in a metallurgical workshop (mound 6). The cluster included a lost-wax-cast twinned figurine (bottom center), an iron bangle (center), a waterworn quartz pebble, a bone fragment (upper left of bangle), a broken iron blade (left of the bone fragment) and a tanged iron blade (upper left of the bangle). An irregularly shaped quartzite cobble (upper left) may have been part of the cluster. Photo scale in cm, arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 19 July 2008.
An iron bangle (SF 08-182) made by coiling a flat iron rod with thinned pointed ends. The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and artifacts (cluster A). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) that capped a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 8.2 cm. Weight: 38.8 cm. Site Ngre Kataa. 15 July 2008.
An iron bangle (SF 08-183) made from a spiral-twisted round iron rod with overlapping ends. The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and a dog cranium and jaws (cluster B). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) that capped a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 9.5 cm. Weight: 115.5 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 15 July 2008.
The body and base of a large pottery bowl has been exposed by exavation in unit 46N 8W. Surrounding this bowl was a cluster of sherds from other pottery vessels, now removed to expose several iron bangles of different shapes and sizes, seen insitu here. Between the bowl and the photo scale is an iron bangle (SF NK 08-169) formed from a spiral-twisted rod. Pedestaled to the right of the bowl (east) is an iron bangle (SF NK 08-140) made from a round rod that was coiled. Visible in the wall behind and to the right of the bowl (north) is a smalled coiled iron bangle made from a flattened piece of iron (SF NK 08-182). This cluster (A) was part of a larger cluster (A-D) of artifacts that archaeologists interpret as a shrine placed in a metallurgical workshop. Rootlets are visible in the wall and floor of the unit. View looking north. Photo scale in 5 cm increments. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 July 2008.
An iron bangle (SF 08-184) made by coiling a flattened iron rod, its ends rounded and overlapping. The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and a dog cranium and jaws (cluster B). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) that capped a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 6.9 cm. Weight: 39.2 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 15 July 2008.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 48N 8W, Level 2. Piece plot: 121-127 cm S, 140-150 S, 53-58 cm bd
The body and base of a large pottery bowl has been exposed by exavation in unit 46N 8W. Surrounding this bowl was a cluster of sherds from other pottery vessels, now removed to expose several iron bangles of different shapes and sizes, seen insitu here. At the base of the photo, center, is an iron bangle (SF NK 08-169) formed from a spiral-twisted rod. Pedestaled to the right of the bowl (east) is an iron bangle (SF NK 08-140) made from a round rod that was coiled. Visible in the wall behind and to the right of the bowl (north; above the photo scale) is a small coiled iron bangle made from a flattened piece of iron (SF NK 08-182). A smaller bangle-like artifact lies directly above the pot, center photo (north; SF 08-139). This area (cluster A) was part of a larger cluster (clusters A-D) of artifacts that archaeologists interpret as a shrine placed in a metallurgical workshop. Rootlets are visible in the wall and floor of the unit. View from above, north at top of photo. Photo scale in cm increments. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 July 2008.
An iron bangle (SF 08-140) made by coiling a round iron rod with thinned pointed ends. The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and artifacts (cluster A). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) that capped a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 8.8 cm. Weight: 40 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 July 2008.
An iron bangle (SF 08-139) made by coiling a flat iron rod. One end is pointed, the other squared. The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and artifacts (cluster A). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) that capped a metallurgical workshop. The bangle shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 6.1 cm. Weight: 21.3 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 July 2008.