Improving African Futures Using Lessons from the Past

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1. Excavations at a metal working area, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
Archaeological excavations of Mound 6 at Ngre Kataa in 2009 expose a workshop where blacksmiths produced iron and copper-alloy tools and ornaments. The mound is being excavated in 2 x 2 meter units named for the coordinates of their northeast corner. In unit 50N 0W (foreground), an area of burned soil marks the location where blacksmiths heated metals. A pottery jar sits in place to the right. In surrounding units (50N 2W, 48N 0W, 48N 2W) are large anvil stones where the hot metals would have been hammered and shaped through forging. The mound's stratified deposits suggest that the workshop area was used for many decades, and perhaps centuries, between the years of about 1350 and 1520 CE (Common Era). View across the mound from the northeast looking towards the southwest. Site Ngre Kataa. 27 June, 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects:
Workshop; Mound 6
Subjects Facet:
Handicraft; Metallurgy; Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging; Excavations (Archaeology); Iron; Copper alloys
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-27
Genre:
Digital image
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

2. Burned features unit 50N 8W, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
A cluster of burned features is exposed in the northwest corner of excavation unit 50N 8W in an area interpreted by archaeologists as a metallurgical workshop (mound 6). Along the unit's west wall (left in photo) is an amorphous zone of fire-hardened red (Munsell color 2.5YR 3/6) matrix. A piece of brass bar (SF NK 09-293) was found in soil associated with this burned feature. Above and to the right (northeast), two circular burned features are visible in outline. These basin-shaped features had a thin lining of fire-hardened sediment, red to dark red (Munsell 2.5 YR 3/6 & 4/8) in color. The basins were filled with loose ashy sediment and small pieces of charcoal. A sample of burned matrix from feature 1 (top right basin) yielded a thermoluminescence (TL) age estimate of 1500 +/- 40 CE (Univ. Wash. 2455). Further excavation revealed additional basin-shaped features beneath the amorphous burned feature. The excavation unit's northwest corner peg is visible, upper left. View looking north. Site Ngre Kataa. 27 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19109 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19111
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 50N 8W,Level 6
Date:
2009-06-27
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-07
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

3. Excavated burned basins, unit 50N 8W, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
A cluster of burned basin-shaped features is exposed in the northwest corner of unit 50N 8W in an area interpreted by archaeologists as a metallurgical workshop (mound 6). The basins comprised a thin layer of fire-hardened sediment, red to dark red (Munsell colors 2.5 YR 3/6 & 4/8) in color. Basin features 1 (top right) and 2 (left of feature 1) measured about 8-9 cm deep and were filled with ashy soil. Basin feature 5 (far left) was shallower. Its fire-hardened surface showed a pinkish tinge. Samples of burned basin matrix from features 1 and 5 yielded thermoluminescence (TL) age estimates of 1500 +/- 40 CE (feature 1; Univ. Wash. 2455) and 1580 +/- 40 CE (feature 5; Univ. Wash. 2456). Photo bar marked in 5 cm increments. Arrows pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 29 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 6
Date:
2009-06-29
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-29
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

4. Burned feature, unit 46N 2W, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
Two views of a burned basin-shaped feature (Feature 2) in mound 6, unit 46N 2W, part of an area that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The feature has been sectioned to reveal its profile. Viewed from the top, the circular feature consists of a ring of fire-hardened yellowish red (Munsell color 5YR 5/8) sediment. The fire-hardened matrix is thicker at its top edge than it is at the bottom of the basin, where its color is dark red (Munsell 2.5YR 3.6). In profile view (second photo), the basin appears as a narrow band of yellowish red fire-hardened sediment. The fire-hardened sediment is thin and rounded at the base of the basin, suggesting that it may have formed around a round-based vessel used to heat metals. A thermoluminescence sample of the burned matrix yielded a date of 1490 +/- 50 years (Univ. Wash. 2364). Photo scale in cm. Site Ngre Kataa. 23 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19112
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 46N 2W, L7
Date:
2009-06-23
Location(s) Facet:
8.11277778, -2.30611111
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-23
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

5. Burned feature, unit 46N 2W, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
Two views of a burned basin-shaped feature (Feature 2) in mound 6, unit 46N 2W, part of an area that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The feature has been sectioned to reveal its profile. Viewed from the top, the circular feature consists of a ring of fire-hardened yellowish red (Munsell color 5YR 5/8) sediment. The fire-hardened matrix is thicker at its top edge than it is at the bottom of the basin, where its color is dark red (Munsell 2.5YR 3.6). In profile view (second photo), the basin appears as a narrow band of yellowish red fire-hardened sediment. The fire-hardened sediment is thin and rounded at the base of the basin, suggesting that it may have formed around a round-based vessel used to heat metals. A thermoluminescence sample of the burned matrix yielded a date of 1490 +/- 50 years (Univ. Wash. 2364). Photo scale in cm. Site Ngre Kataa. 23 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19112
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 46N 2W, L7
Date:
2009-06-23
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-23
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

6. Insitu anvil/grinding stones and burned feature, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
Looking eastward over excavation unit 48N 10W toward unit 48N 8W in an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop, a series of anvil/grinding stones have been left in place and a burned feature exposed. Foreground, right, a large anvil stone (GS 09-33) rests atop another stone (GS 09-34). To the right (south), the circular rim of an everted-rim jar has been left in place. To the left (north) is a zone of darker ashy soil flecked with charcoal. Center photo is an anvil stone (GS 09-32), against which a partial elephant tusk--now removed--was found resting. Behind this stone is a tree root and base of a tree stump. The area from this stone (GS 09-32) and extending beyond the stump had been covered with artifacts (clusters B-D, now removed) that archaeologists interpret as a large shrine feature. Some of these artifacts were superimposed directly over the amorphous orange-red burned feature (center photo), which was likely created by high heat associated with forging metals. Other smaller stones have been left in place across the unit. Photo scales marked in 5 cm increments, arrows pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 4 July 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19171
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Units 48N 10W, 48 N 8W, Level 4
Date:
2009-07-04
Location(s) Facet:
8.11277778, -2.30611111
Subjects:
Anvil stone; Grinding stone; Jar
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Pottery; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-07-04
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111

7. Anvil stones in a metallurgical workshop, mound 6, Ngre Kataa, 2009

Description:
Excavations uncovered three insitu boulders placed in a row that were used as anvil stones in an area interpreted as a metallurgical workshop. Multiple surfaces of the boulders show signs of wear caused by hammering and grinding. Repeated use of the anvil stone in the foreground (GS 09-03) has created a clear depression on its upper surface and its left side is flattened by wear. The middle anvil stone (GS 09-02) has multiple depressions created by use on its upper surface. The anvil in the rear of the photo (GS 09-01) shows wear on its top and side surfaces, with dirt still embedded in a deep cup-shaped depression on its south-facing side in this photo. To the east (right) of the boulder in foreground, the flat surface of a grinding stone (GS 09-04) is visible in the east wall of the excavation unit. A broken pedestal base of a pot sits on its side to the east (right) of the middle anvil stone. In the upper left corner of the photo, a burned feature interpreted by archaeologists as the remains of a forge has been exposed. The red-and-white band above the photo sign is a two meter scale, marked in 10 cm increments. View looking north across two exavation units: 50N 2W (top of photo) and 48N 2W (bottom of photo). The 2x2m units have been excavated to slightly different depths. Site Ngre Kataa. 1 June, 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19121 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19181 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19182
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Units 48N 2W and 50N 2W, Level 4
Date:
2009-06-01
Location(s) Facet:
Ngre Kataa
Subjects:
Anvil stone
Subjects Facet:
Excavations (Archaeology); Archaeology; Metalworking; Forging
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2009
Date searchable:
2009-06-01
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Ngre Kataa;8.11277778, -2.30611111
Geographic Coordinates:
8.11277778, -2.30611111