Improving African Futures Using Lessons from the Past

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1. Gunflint or strike-a-light from Makala Kataa, 1990

Description:
An imported gunflint or strike-a-light recovered from late 19th-century Makala Kataa. Flint is a fine-grained stone that creates a spark when struck against iron. Gunflints were shaped pieces of stone placed into the hammer of a gun mechanism. Pulling the trigger released the hammer, causing the flint to strike a steel plate and creating sparks that lit the gun's powder. The flint's top face (bottom left view) has been beveled by the flint knapper and its side edges (top left) have been flaked or chipped. Its bottom surface is smooth (bottom right). Gunflints like these were made in large numbers in centers like Brandon, Suffolk, England and imported into West Africa in large quantities during the 18th and 19th centuries. These flints were also used to spark fires apart from their use in guns, giving rise to the name "strike-a-light." Photo scale in cm. Site Makala Kataa. 25 June, 1990.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Makala Kataa, Station 10, Trench 1, Unit 2, Level 1
Date:
1990-06-25
Location(s) Facet:
Makala Kataa
Subjects:
Gunflint
Subjects Facet:
Firearms; Archaeology
Identifier:
SF MK10 90-014a
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1990
Date searchable:
1990-06-25
Genre:
Digital image
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Makala Kataa;8.142724; -2.382957
Commentary:
Composite photo made using Adobe Photoshop 2020
Geographic Coordinates:
8.142724; -2.382957