A young boy has made a lorry (truck) from tin cans and other discarded materials. The wheels are made from worn-out "flip-flop" shoes and the string tied to the front allows him to pull the truck. Behind him in the distance, to the right, is the wooden shed that housed one of the area's first corn-grinding mills. Ahenkro, 2000.
A storm in late 1999/early 2000 brought down the majestic kapok (Ceiba pentandra) tree that stood over the former market site on the south side of Ahenkro. Here the fallen tree is in the process of being cut and hauled away. Chickens and a goat forage in the foreground. Ahenkro, May, 2000.
Kwasi Millah (center, brown cloth) offers libations to Kuulo ancestors at the base of Lelɛɛ Wurache's tree. The occasion was prompted by the request of the Banda Research Project group to conduct archaeological excavations at Kuulo Kataa. Outskirts of Dompofie, June, 2000.
Kwasi Millah (left), aided by Daniel Kofi Nakpah (to his right, holding a bottle of drink), offers libations to Kuulo ancestors at the archaeological site of Kuulo Kataa. Left to right, archaeological team members Enoch Mensah, __, and Yaw Frimpong look on. Kuulo Kataa, July, 2000.
As Daniel Kofi Nakpah holds a goat which will be offered to the shrine, Kwasi Millah (center, brown cloth) pours libations at the base of Lelɛɛ Wurache's tree while others look on. The occasion was prompted by the request of the Banda Research Project group to conduct archaeological excavations at Kuulo Kataa. Outskirts of Dompofie, June, 2000.
Two Banda Research Project team members screen excavated soil at Mound 102, Kuulo Kataa. The men work on the edge of a cleared area several meters away from excavation unit 55W 69N. Thick vegetation covers the mound behind them. A headpan of excavated soil sits in front, awaiting screening. After sieving the soil, the men carefully pick and bag artifacts (fragments of pottery, metals, beads, animal bone) left in the screen. Studying these artifacts and the contexts from which they were recovered (their provenience) helps archaeologists to learn about the daily lives of past people. Kuulo Kataa, 2000.
In-progress excavations at Mound 130, Kuulo Kataa. A notched tree trunk provides a ladder into the deep units. The south walls of units 93 & 95 E, 110N are visible (center photo), showing the mound's layered deposits. In unit 95E 106 N (photo right), Emmanuel Duku (left), Wazi Apoh (center) and Leith Smith (right) record soil colors using a Munsell Soil Color Chart. Top left, two team members work by a screen used to sieve excavated soil, piles of which are visible in the background. Mound 130 covers an area of approximately 1100 m2 and rises to roughly a meter above the surrounding ground surface. Excavation here revealed thick layers of ashy midden deposits inter-stratified with walls and floors of houses. Kuulo Kataa, 2000.
Photo of a carinated pottery bowl, with profile depicted (left). The bowl has a restricted opening with the rim rounded at the lip. Above the angular carination, the exterior surface is decorated with horizontal bands of wavy line impression, below which are two deep channels. Shallow grooves appear above and below narrow bands of dentate (comb) impressions. Below the carination, the exterior surface is decorated overall with a carved roulette impression. An INAA sample ("B123-2") from this bowl was assigned to the "L" group of ceramic fabrics. It was therefore likely made from clays mined west of the Banda hills. Rim diameter: 23 cm at the interior lip. Sherd represents an estimated 18% of the bowl's circumference. Scale in cm. Site B-123. 22 July, 2000.