Excavations at Jenné-Jeno, Hambarketolo, and Kaniana (Inland Niger Delta, Mali) :: the 1981 season

University of California Press20Published In 1994 • Pages: xxvi, 605

By: McIntosh, Susan Keech, McIntosh, Roderick J., Brill, Robert H., MacDonald, Kevin C., Van Neer, Wim.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The Inland Niger Delta (IND) site of Jenné-jeno is one of the longest Iron Age sequences in west Africa (250 B.C.-1400 A.D.), reaching its peak settlement density in 900 A.D. The archaeologists carried out a site survey in 1977 and returned in 1980 to do nine excavations, one each in Hambarketolo and Kaniana, and seven in Jenné-jeno. They uncovered brick walls, pottery, metal artifacts, and burials. They identified four settlement phases: Phase I (250 B.C.-50 A.D.), Phase II (A.D. 50-400), Phase III (A.D. 400-900), and Phase IV (A.D. 900-1400) and classified three ceramic assemblages: Fineware Phase (associated with Phases I/II), Painted Ware Phase (Phase III), and Fine Channeled and Impressed Ware Phase (Phase IV). Although there is evidence of settlement hierarchy and long-distance trade, the data does not indicate any social stratification. The subsistence pattern of hunting, fishing, and the domestication of animals and plants stayed uniform throughout the period. There is evidence of smithing but not smelting.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Topography and geology
Processing of basic materials
Settlement patterns
Archaeological measures, techniques, and analyses
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
West African Iron Age
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2002
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Africa
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Western Africa
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.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
Ian Skoggard;2001
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1980-1981
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
2250-1100 BP (250 B.C.-900 A.D.)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Inland Niger Delta, Mali
NotesAdditional notes
edited by Susan Keech McIntosh
Background to the 1981 research / Susan Keech McIntosh and Roderick J. McIntosh -- Stratigraphy, features and chronology / Roderick J. McIntosh and Susan Keech McIntosh -- Pottery / Susan Keech McIntosh -- Other ceramic and fired clay artifacts / Susan Keech McIntosh -- Stone, glass and bone / Susan Keech McIntosh -- Chemical analyses of some glasses from Jenné-jeno -- Metals / Susan Keech McIntosh -- Analysis of the mammalian, avian, and reptilian remains / Kevin C. MacDonald -- Analysis of foish remains / Wim Van Neer -- Paleobotanical and human osteological remains / Susan Keech McIntosh -- Conclusion / Susan Keech McIntosh
Includes bibliographical references (p. 579-605)
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
94035017
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Iron Age--Africa