Kwasi Millah, Elder of Kuulo Katoo and caretaker of Kuulo shrines, stands in front of the baobab tree that sprang up at the spot where Lelɛɛ Wurache, the Kuulo ancestress, sank into the ground, as described in the family history of Kuulo Katoo. Outskirts of Dompofie, June, 1995.
Kwasi Millah, Elder of Kuulo Katoo and caretaker of Kuulo shrines, stands in front of the tree that sprang up at the spot where Lelɛɛ Wurache, the Kuulo ancestress, sank into the ground, as described in the family history of Kuulo Katoo. Outskirts of Dompofie, June, 1995.
Oral history of Gbԑԑnlԑԑ [Gbeenlee] Katoo (house), Gbao. This was the first family history recorded as part of the Banda Research Project. The history describes how the Gbԑԑnlԑԑ family came to live in the Banda area, relating also the history of the Brafour segment of the family who live in Ahenkro (Kafͻnͻ/Kafono Katoo). It relays how the Jakari Fetish was brought to the area. Former male and female heads of family are listed. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Gbɛɛnlɛɛ Katoo, Gbau [Gbao]. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pp. 11-13. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 4 pages.
Oral history of Kofi Krԑma [Krema] Katoo (house)--a subhouse of Gbaha Katoo from Makala--describes how they came to live in Ahenkro and the shrines for which the family had responsibility. The animal sacrifices offered to each shrine are described, as are powers of the Nyi and Tie "festishes." Former male and female heads of family are listed. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Kofi Krɛma Katoo, Banda-Ahenkro. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pp. 25-26. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 2 pages.
Oral history of Sie Kwabena Manje Katoo (house), Ahenkro, describes the family member who was a powerful fetish priest who led the Nafanas on their journey from Kakala to the Banda area. The family holds responsibility of distributing gunpowder in times of war. The sacrifices and taboos of the house's fetish/shrine are described and a list of former male and female heads of family provided. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Sie Kwabena Manje Katoo, Banda-Ahenkro. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pg. 38. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 2 pages.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Danluwi fetish; Kakala; Sie Kwabena Manje Katoo; Animal sacrifices; Family history; Taboos; Bui; Gunpowder; Migration
A perforated pottery jar lidded with the pedestaled base of another pot sits in situ at the base of level 6, unit 46N 2W at Mound 6. The pot contained eight cowries and is interpreted by archaeologists as a shrine pot placed in association with metalworking facilities. Photo scale in 5 cm increments. Site Ngre Kataa. 24 June, 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with clusters B and C of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine (clusters A-D) which capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Far left in unit 48N 10W, the flat surface of an anvil/grinding stone (GS 09-32) is exposed, to the left (west) of which a poorly preserved portion of an elephant tusk was found (now removed). To the right (east) of the large stone is Cluster B, which includes the group of sherds seen in the vertical exposure in front and left (west) of the tree stump. Behind the tree stump is a large cluster (C) of pottery lids, partial pots and iron objects. Photo scale marked in 5 cm increments. View looking towards northwest. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with clusters B-D of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine (clusters A-D) which capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Bottom left, at the base of a balk supporting the unit peg, is cluster D, comprised of two stones flanking an iron disc, laid flat (SF 09-158), and a tri-looped iron bangle (SF 09-159). In front and left (east) of the tree stump is a large cluster (C) of pottery lids, partial pots and iron objects, including an iron bangle (SF 09-148) and a pair of miniature iron manacles (SF 09-171, "B"-shaped object). To the right (west) of the tree stump, another cluster of pottery and iron objects can be seen. Top right of the photo, a yellow notebook rests on top of an anvil/grinding stone (GS 09-32), next to which rested a poorly preserved section of an elephant ivory tusk. North arrow photo scale marked in 5 cm increments, arrow pointing north. View looking towards southwest. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with clusters C and D of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine that capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Cluster D appears in the foreground, left, below unexcavated soil remaining around the 48N 8W unit peg. Here two small stones flank a flat iron disc (SF 09-159, left) and a tri-looped iron bangle (SF 09-158, right). Cluster C is a large grouping of pottery and iron objects located north of the tree stump, center photo. Included were several whole pottery lids, a broken but mostly complete jar associated with an iron bangle (SF 09-148) and a pair of miniature iron manacles (SF 09-171). The bangle is visible, resting on a soil pedestal in front of the tree trunk's center. In the photo's upper right, a large anvil stone (GS 09-32), on which sits a yellow notebook, is visible. Flanking this stone on its western edge was a portion of an ivory tusk. Photo scale marked in 5 cm increments. Arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with cluster C of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine (clusters A-D) that capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Center photo are two large pieces of an everted-rim jar, its exterior surface facing outward. Immediately above is a large portion of the same pot, its interior surface facing outward. Found positioned against the jar's interior surface was a pair of miniature iron manacles (SF 09-171, "B"-shaped object). An iron bangle (SF 09-148) was positioned at the jar's mouth, above the manacles. To the left of the bangle is the upper edge of a large grinding stone (GS 09-26), which later excavations revealed to be oriented with its grinding surface down. To the right of the bangle, a pedestal-handled pot lid (NK 09-381) rests with its interior surface oriented upward. At center photo, bottom, a pot lid with a strap handle (NK 09-382) rests on its side. To the right of the north arrow, portions of an another pedestal-handled pot lid lie with its interior oriented upward. Photo scale at upper right marked in cm. Arrow pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with cluster C of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine (clusters A-D) that capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Lower center of the photo are two large pieces of an everted-rim jar, its exterior surface facing outward. Immediately above is a large portion of the same pot, its interior surface facing outward. Found positioned against the jar's interior surface was a pair of miniature iron manacles (SF 09-171, "B"-shaped object). An iron bangle (SF 09-148) was positioned at the jar's mouth, above the manacles. To the left of the bangle is the upper edge of a large grinding stone (GS 09-26), which later excavations revealed to be oriented with its grinding surface down. To the right of the bangle, a pedestal-handled pot lid (NK 09-381) rests with its interior surface oriented upward. Photo scale marked in cm. View looking south. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Excavation of a shrine cluster, two images. The image on left shows a pottery cluster, first exposed in June 2008, as it appeared on 10 June 2009. At bottom center of this image is a pedestal base, above which is a tight cluster of rim sherds. The curved sherd on the far right in this image is the outer edge of the pedestal-handled lid, which is fully exposed in the photo on the right, taken on 16 June 2009. A dog skull in a highly friable state is visible above and to the right of this lid in both photos. In the imgae on the right, an iron bangle (SF 09-219) can be seen resting in an angled position, below and left of which is a dog mandible. These were uncovered by excavation below and behind the pedestal base seen in the picture on the left. Photo scale marked in 5 cm increments. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 and 16 June 2009.
Insitu pottery and iron artifacts associated with clusters B and C of what archaeologists interpret as a shrine that capped stratified deposits in a metallurgical workshop. Cluster B encompassed the objects on the south (right) side of the photo, west of (below) the tree stump. To the right of the black-and-white photo stick (lower right) is an iron spike (SF 09-174), a half bangle (SF 09-173) and a slightly curved iron disc (SF 09-172) in a carefully placed composition. Immediately to the east (above in the photo), an aglomeration of pottery sherds is stacked. Later excavation revealed a pedestal-handled pottery lid, dog skull and jaw bones carefully placed below these sherds in cluster B. Cluster C encompassed the artifacts to the north (left) of the tree stump. These included a series of pottery lids, portions of single pottery jar and sherds from other pots. An iron bangle (SF 09-148) is visible above and slightly left of the top photo scale, sitting adjacent to a pottery lid (NK 09-381) lying with its interior surface up. This wider shrine assemblage overlaid burned features associated with metalworking activities. Black-and-white photo scale in 5 cm increments. Arrows pointing north. Site Ngre Kataa. 10 June 2009.
Miniature iron shackles (manacles). The artifact was excavated from a context that archaeologists interpret as a shrine located in metallurgical workshop. The shrine included many pottery jars and lids, iron bangles and other objects. The miniature shackles were placed inside a pottery jar, which was found lying on its side and broken. The shackles have been corroded by rust. Scale in cm. Width: 7.4 cm. Weight: 16.1 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 9-10 June, 2009.
Tanged iron blade with pointed tip (left) and rounded shoulders. Two large concretions adhere to the blade's corroded surface. The tang (right) would have allowed the blade to be hafted to a wooden or bamboo shaft or handle. If hafted to a long shaft, it may have been used as a spear (chombo in Nafaanra). This artifact was found closely associated with a copper alloy twinned figurine, an iron bangle, 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. Length: 8.6 cm. Weight: 12.6 g. Site Ngre Kataa. 19 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 tri-looped iron bangle (SF 09-158). The bangle was formed from a single round iron rod, looped three times at the top (detail, left). The rod is joined with a single twist at the base, with each end of the rod overlaid by a thin iron strap (bottom), causing slight thickening on either side of the twisted base. The bangle was found in close association with a flat iron disc (SF 09-159) and two stones whose surfaces showed evidence of grinding (cluster D). 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: 8.5 cm. Weight: 30.2 g. Ngre Kataa. 9 June 2009.
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.