article

Pits, graves and grains: archaeological and archaeobotanical research in southern Cameroun

Journal of African archaeology • 4 (2) • Published In 2006 • Pages: 273-298

By: Eggert, Manfred K. H., Höhn, Alexa, Kahlheber, Stefanie, Meister, Conny, Neumann, Katharina, Schweizer, Astrid.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document

This document presents some of the results from archaeological fieldwork in southern Cameroon that, almost uniquely at the time in Central and West Africa, included the processing of sediment samples from archaeological sites to retrieve botanical remains, and of sediment cores from river channels for palynological samples. The investigators found evidence of pearl millet, a plant better-adapted to semi-arid West African savannas (its probable place of origin), as well as other wild and domesticated plants. Their findings indicate contact with West Africa and provide indications of possible plant foods in the diet of other African rainforest dwellers.

SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF

Flora

Comparative evidence

traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)

West African Neolithic

RegionThe area the document pertains to

Africa

Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region

Western Africa

Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs

article

Evaluation

Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.

Archaeologist

Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection

Sarah Berry; 2021

Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document

1997-1999, 2004-2006

Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to

2800-1600 BP

Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)

South Region, Cameroon

NotesAdditional notes

Manfred K.H. Eggert, Alexa Höhn, Stefanie Kahlheber, Conny Meister, Katharina Neumann, and Astrid Schweizer

Includes bibliographical references (p. 296-298)

LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number

2004257002

LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings

West African Neolithic