A fragmented pottery lid (NK 09-626) is positioned vertically with its interior surface facing south. A large tree root is visible behind the lid, below the sign board. A dog cranium positioned above and an iron bangle placed below the lid have been removed. Additional excavation has exposed several pottery rim sherds below a dog mandible, which is positioned diagonally below the pot lid with its mandibular joint oriented upward. Several teeth remain in the mandible. A second less well-preserved dog mandible has been exposed below this. A burned feature can be seen immediately below this assemblage of objects. This cluster (B, 11) was part of a larger set of clusters (A-D) that archaeologists interpret as a shrine in a metallurgical workshop. Photo scale marked in 5 cm increments. Arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 30 June 2009.
An iron bangle (SF 09-219) made from a round iron rod, its ends fused to create a continuous circle. The bangle was found beneath a pottery lid in a composition that included a dog cranium and jaw bones (cluster B/11). 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: 7.6 cm. Weight: 26.8 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 16 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 48N 8W, Level 5. Piece plot: 108-112 cm S, 137-144 cm W, 108-110 cm bd
An insitu anvil stone (GS 08-25) is surrounded by several fragmentary and one complete pottery vessel (NK08-407) in an area that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. At the top and center (southeast) is a cluster of sherds from a broken pot and a piece of a tuyere. In the lower right, to the west of the anvil stone and framed by photo scales, is a circular burned feature (Feature 2) with an outer ring of oxidized red sediment (Munsell 2.5YR 5/6) and a yellowish red (Munsell 5YR 4/6) center. Features similar to this appeared across this workshop area and may have been created by exposing rounded base containers to high heat. A yellow glass bead (SF 08-234) was found in the fill of a shallow feature characterized by ashy soil and charcoal located immediately south (lower right) of the burned feature. Black-and-white photo scale marked in 5 cm increments. View looking southeast. Site Ngre Kataa. 8 July 2008.
A barrel-shaped drawn glass bead (SF 08-234), opaque yellow in color. The bead is somewhat asymmetrical in shape and has angled ends. Compositional analysis of the bead (via LA-ICP-MS) showed it be made of mineral soda alumina (m-Na-Al) glass, probably produced in South Asia. The bead was found in the fill of a feature adjacent to a circular area of burned soil in a context (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. Scale in cm. Length: 4.6 mm. Weight: 0.18 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 17 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.
A tree that took root atop a shrine cluster has been cut back to a stump (center photo). Most of the objects in the shrine clusters (B-C) have been removed. To the left and below the tree stump, clusters of pottery (10 & 11) can be seen, including a red-colored pottery lid oriented vertically (cluster 11). An iron bangle, a dog cranium and dog mandibles were found associated with that lid. To the right (north) of the stump, a tri-looped iron bangle (SF 09-218) has been pedestaled (left of the black-and-white photo scale stick). The level above this had been covered by a cluster (cluster C) of pottery, including several pot lids, together with an iron bangle and a miniature pair of iron manacles. To the east and west, two large anvil stones are visible, one to the right (east) of the tree stump (GS 09-26) and one to the left (west, GS 09-32). To the left of the stump, a burned feature is visible below the pottery cluster (cluster 11). Photo scale bar marked in 5 cm increments. Arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 16 June 2009.
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
An iron bangle (SF 09-147) fragment made from a flattened iron rod. The fragment is bent at an acute angle. It was found in association with a pottery lid, other pottery sherds, a dog cranium and jaw bones (cluster B). Archaeologists interpret this context as part of a larger shrine feature (clusters A-D) in a metallurgical workshop. The bangle fragment shows signs of corrosion by rusting. Scale in cm. Width: 7.1 cm. Weight: 9.3 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9 June 2009.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa, Mound 6, Unit 48N 8W, Level 2. Piece plot: 93 cm S, 144 cm W, 70-80 cm bd
An iron bangle (SF 09-170) made from a round iron rod with flattened ends. The bangle is open on one side (3/4 circle). The bangle was found in association with pottery, other bangles and artifacts (cluster B). 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: 5 cm. Weight: 8.2 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
A cluster of four large insitu anvil/grinding stones in an area (mound 6) that archaeologists interpret as a metallurgical workshop. The stone at the bottom of the photo (GS 08-06) was oriented with its grinding surface down (not, therefore, visible in the photo). The middle right stone (GS 08-07) also rested with its most-used grinding surface down. The largest stone (middle, left, GS 08-05) had no clear working surface. The stone at the back (GS 08-08) was associated with a fist-sized round quartz hammerstone, seen insitu slightly above. Later exavations (2009) revealed a perforated pot (NK 09-750), lidded with the base of another pot (NK 09-750), adjacent to but approximately 40 cm below this cluster in the next excavation unit. Photo scale in 5 cm increments. Arrow pointing north, view looking east. Site Ngre Kataa. 3 July 2008.