User:Ochiwar/Archeology of Igbo Ukwu
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Ị̀gb'úkwú | |
  Shown within Nigeria | |
| Location | Anambra State, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Region | Igboland |
| Coordinates | 06°01′N 07°01′E / 6.017°N 7.017°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 800 |
| Abandoned | 1100 |
| Satellite of | Oraeri, Kingdom of Nri |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1959–1960, 1964 |
| Archaeologists | Charles Thurstan Shaw |
Archaeology of Igbo Ukwu is
Excavation history
[edit]While digging a well in his compound in Igbo Ukwu in 1939, a man called Isiah Anozie struck on some bronze objects. He dug them out, pilled them against the wall of his hut and not realizing their importance, asked friends and neighbors to help themselves to any pieces they wanted. Months later, Mr.J.O.Field, who was the colonial British district officer of the area got information about the bronzes and was able to purchase most of them from the owners and report the find. In the dry season of 1959-60, the site was excavated on the of the request of the Nigerian Federal Department of Antiquities. The excavation was led by Prof. Thurstan Shaw, assisted by Mallam Liman Ciroma. Information gleaned by the team on site prompted them to start excavation in two promising areas, the first being the compound of Isiah Anozie (called Igbo-Isiah), the second being in the compound of Richard Anozie (Igbo-Richard) about 30 meters to the south-west of the first site.[1]
In 1964, Professor Shaw and his team again excavated in Igbo-Ukwu, this time for the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. The team dug in an area east of the previous finds, in the compound of Jonah Anozie and the site was named Igbo-Jonah.[2]
Recovered items
[edit]| Items recovered prior to excavation[3] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bronze brazier or bowl with stand | |||||||||
| 3 Large bronze bowls (over 30 cm diameter), round or oval | |||||||||
| 2 Medium-size bronze bowls (under 30 cm diameter), round or oval | |||||||||
| 9 Crescent-shaped bronze bowls, resembling pinched calabashes | |||||||||
| 1 Small pear-shaped bronze bowl | |||||||||
| 1 Bronze pot ring | |||||||||
| 2 Bronze vessels in the shape of shells | |||||||||
| 4 Cylindrical bronze ornaments | |||||||||
| 9 Bronze pendant ornaments, consisting of animal or human heads | |||||||||
| 1 Small bronze circular pendant ornament | |||||||||
| 4 Coiled bronze snakes on spikes | |||||||||
| 1 Bronze spiral 'handle' | |||||||||
| 1 Bronze sword hilt | |||||||||
| 4 Bronze sword scabbards | |||||||||
| 2 Bronze staff heads | |||||||||
| 1 Large bronze chain | |||||||||
| 24 Pieces of small bronze chain | |||||||||
| 20 Small bronze conical spiral bosses | |||||||||
| 4 Small bronze lattice-work ornaments | |||||||||
| 120 bronze rings, diameter about 12 cm | |||||||||
| 100 Small 'bell-shaped' bronze ornaments | |||||||||
| 8 Small bronze plaques | |||||||||
| 3 'Aro knot' manillas | |||||||||
| 1 Manilla | |||||||||
| 2 'D-shaped' bronze ornaments | |||||||||
| 1 Small bronze conical bell | |||||||||
| Items excavated from the Igbo-Isiah site[4] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bronze vase, approx. 33 cm high, consisting of a pot standing on its own pot stand or pedestal, and the whole enclosed in a knotted ropework pattern, attached below the rim of the pot and to the base, but free-standing away from the middle of the vessel | |||||||||
| 1 bronze pot stand, approx. 30 cm high, consisting of a hollow open-work cylinder terminating at top and at base in a wide flange; on one side there is a male, on the other a female, human figure, with negroid features | |||||||||
| 1 large bronze bowl | |||||||||
| 1 medium-size bronze bowl | |||||||||
| 1 vessel in the shape of a shell | |||||||||
| 1 bronze staff head | |||||||||
| 1 bronze sword hilt | |||||||||
| 1 bronze sword scabbard | |||||||||
| 1 coiled bronze snake on spike | |||||||||
| 2 pendant bronze ornaments of animal heads | |||||||||
| A number of bronze rings, diameter approximately 104cm, D- shaped bronze ornaments, small plaques and conical spiral bosses. | |||||||||
| A large number of bell-shaped bronze ornaments and pieces of small chain. | |||||||||
| A heap of iron knives or razors | |||||||||
| An iron sword lying in situ by the scabbard | |||||||||
| 58,000 beads[5] | |||||||||
| Items excavated from the Igbo-Richard site[6] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100,000 beads[7] | |||||||||
| A hearth or cooking place with bronze implements in it | |||||||||
| A shrine containing a heap of pots piled up on top of each other | |||||||||
| An ancient cistern containing pottery | |||||||||
| A burial chamber containing human remains, four elephant tusks, a heavy bronze bangle, two bronze brackets supported on rods, a bronze leopard's skull surmounting a long rod, two remarkable wristlets or anklets consisting of a bronze framework the intervening panels of which were entirely filled in with blue beads, a number of flat metal plates and roundels, a number of bronze rings about 12 cm in diameter, a flat sceptre-like bronze object with a tang for hafting and an 'Aro knot' design above it, a bronze sword or dagger handle mounted by a human figure, and a large double circle, one above the other, of bronze bosses set in the remains of wood-perhaps some kind of coronet. | |||||||||
| Items excavated from the Igbo-Jonah site[8] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human remains | |||||||||
| One large complete pot and one probably complete. Large amounts of potsherds | |||||||||
| Three small bronze bells | |||||||||
| Eighteen bronze armlets | |||||||||
| Two short bronze rods | |||||||||
| One semi- circular 'knot' bar | |||||||||
| One larger cylindrical object of bronze, decorated with birds, monkeys and fish | |||||||||
| Crotal with chain link | |||||||||
| Long bronze rod | |||||||||
| Iron funnel- shaped object | |||||||||
| One larger cylindrical object with 'ribbon loops' | |||||||||
| Two smaller cylindrical objects | |||||||||
| Two iron armlets | |||||||||
| One bronze finger ring | |||||||||
| Two pieces of iron sword | |||||||||
| Hooked iron bar with fragment of bone attached | |||||||||
| Bronze chain | |||||||||
| Four blue beads | |||||||||
Interpretation of excavation data
[edit]After several interim reports,[9][10] Professor Shaw published his conclusive report on the archaeological excavations in 1970.[11] Professor Shaw`s publication was noted as being one of the most comprehensive monographs in African archaeology at the time, but was criticized for the lavishness of its production which had largely prevented anyone but libraries and reviewers from possessing it. [12] In this detailed publication, Professor Shaw upholds his initial thesis that the three sites comprise principally a repository for the keeping of sacred vessels and regalia (Igbo Isiah), the burial-place of an important dignitary (Igbo Richard), and a disposal pit, dug apparently to receive a quantity of pottery and bronze objects of a ritual or ceremonial nature (Igbo Jonah).[13]
Dating
[edit]The Radiocarbon dating technique was employed to determine the age of the Igbo-Ukwu site and artifacts. Of six samples sent to the laboratory for testing, one (Igbo Isiah) was destroyed when the apparatus went wrong and consequently there are no dates from this site.[14] Of the remaining five samples, only one (sample I-2008) from the burial chamber (Igbo Richard), came from one of the actual artifacts themselves (wood from a stool) and therefore qualified for A1 status. The remaining four samples from the Igbo Jonah site were all composite charcoal samples, presumed to date the source deposits of artifacts, and thus qualified for A2 status.[15]
For sample I-2008 (Igbo Richard) a calendar range of 880-1160 AD was determined.[16] Of the other four samples from Igbo Jonah, sample HV1514 was dated at 760-1060 AD, sample HV1515 was dated 730-1000 AD, sample I 1784 was dated 690-1020 AD and sample HV1516 was dated 1350-1430 AD. The much later date determined for sample HV1516 as compared to all other samples is explained by Professor Shaw as most probably being as a result of contamination of the sample, going into detail to show in what ways this contamination may have come about.[17]
The initial reaction of the academic community to the published dates was skeptical, though they have now found general acceptance.[18] The implications of the dating where criticised by some authors[19] and acceptance was slow because the dates did not fit into conventional knowledge at that time. As P.S. Garlake explains
The weight of the evidence places it in the ninth century A.D. Certainly there is no concrete support for alternative interpretations. This means that an extremely sophisticated metal technology, an abundance of imported goods and extravagant accumulations of wealth in the hands of individuals, existed deep in the forest when, in the savanna, mercantile states were still very young. This is very different from the conventional view of the early historical developments of West Africa.[20]
Beads
[edit]More than 165,000 beads were excavated in Igbo-Ukwu, the majority being monochrome glass beads with yellow, grayish blue, dark blue, dark green, peacock blue, and reddish brown colors predominating. Longitudinally striped beads of various colors and multicolored eye beads were also found. Beads made of stone were also recovered including 15,000 short carnelian cylinders and barrels and lesser quantities of long barrels and faceted examples, as well as polished and dull quartz short-barrel, standard cylinder, and bi-cone beads.[21] The beads have established an international commercial element existing between Igbo-Ukwu and the north, up to Egypt, with excavations in Gao[22][23] and Fustat[24][25] revealing beads with marked parallels to the Igbo-Ukwu beads roughly dated to the same period. As a result of these finds it has been established that most of the glass beads recovered in Igbo-Ukwu were manufactured in Old Cairo, notably in the workshops of Fustat.[26] The glass beads, and some of the stone ones, appear to have been the only categories of material obtained by external long-distance trade recovered in Igbo-Ukwu.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report, Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 60 (Nov., 1960), pp. 161-164
- ^ Further Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report , Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 65 (Nov. - Dec., 1965), pp. 181-184
- ^ Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report, Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 60 (Nov., 1960), pp. 161-164
- ^ Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report, Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 60 (Nov., 1960), pp. 161-164
- ^ Further Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report , Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 65 (Nov. - Dec., 1965), pp. 181-184
- ^ Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report, Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 60 (Nov., 1960), pp. 161-164
- ^ Further Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report , Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 65 (Nov. - Dec., 1965), pp. 181-184
- ^ Further Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report , Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 65 (Nov. - Dec., 1965), pp. 181-184
- ^ Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report, Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 60 (Nov., 1960), pp. 161-164
- ^ Further Excavations at Igbo-Ukwu, Eastern Nigeria: An Interim Report , Thurstan Shaw, Source: Man, Vol. 65 (Nov. - Dec., 1965), pp. 181-184
- ^ Igbo- Ukwu: an account of archaeological discoveries in eastern Nigeria. By THURSTAN SHAW. Published for the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan by Faber and Faber Ltd., London/Northwestern University Press, Evanston, I970. Two vols. boxed
- ^ Unearthing Igbo Ukwu by Thurstan Shaw Review by: P. S. Garlake Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 49, No. 1 (1979), pp. 90-91
- ^ R. R. Inskeep, a review of, Igbo-Ukwu: An Account of Archaeological Discoveries in Eastern Nigeria by Thurstan Shaw, The South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 26, No. 103/104 (Dec., 1971), pp. 179-181
- ^ Those Igbo-Ukwu Radiocarbon Dates: Facts, Fictions and Probabilities, Thurstan Shaw Source: The Journal of African History, Vol. 16, No. 4 (1975), p. 504
- ^ Those Igbo-Ukwu Radiocarbon Dates: Facts, Fictions and Probabilities, Thurstan Shaw Source: The Journal of African History, Vol. 16, No. 4 (1975), p. 504
- ^ Those Igbo-Ukwu Radiocarbon Dates: Facts, Fictions and Probabilities, Thurstan Shaw Source: The Journal of African History, Vol. 16, No. 4 (1975), p. 506
- ^ Those Igbo-Ukwu Radiocarbon Dates: Facts, Fictions and Probabilities, Thurstan Shaw Source: The Journal of African History, Vol. 16, No. 4 (1975), p. 507
- ^ Review Unearthing Igbo-Ukwu: Archaeological Discoveries in Eastern Nigeria. by Thurstan Shaw Review by: John Alexander Man, New Series, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1978), p. 145
- ^ Dating Problems at Igbo-Ukwu Babatunde Lawal The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1973), pp. 1-8
- ^ Unearthing Igbo Ukwu by Thurstan Shaw Review by: P. S. Garlake Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 49, No. 1 (1979), p.91
- ^ Gao and Igbo-Ukwu: Beads, Interregional Trade, and Beyond Author(s): Timothy Insoll and Thurstan Shaw Source: The African Archaeological Review, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Mar., 1997), p. 12
- ^ Insoll, T (1994). Preliminary results of excavations at Gao, September and October 1993. Nyame Akuma 41: 45-48.
- ^ Insoll, T (1996). Islam, Archaeology and History. Gao Region (Mali) ca. AD 900-1250, Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology 39, Tempus Reparatum, Oxford.
- ^ inder-Wilson, R. W, and Scanlon, G. T (1987). Glass finds from Fustat: 1972-1980. Journal of Glass Studies 29: 60-71
- ^ Kubiak, W, and Scanlon, G. T (1989). Fustat Expedition Final Report, Vol 2 Fustat-C, Ameri can Research Centre in Egypt, Winona Lake.
- ^ Igbo-Ukwu and the Nile Author(s): J. E. G. Sutton Source: The African Archaeological Review, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Mar., 2001), p. 51
- ^ Gao and Igbo-Ukwu: Beads, Interregional Trade, and Beyond Author(s): Timothy Insoll and Thurstan Shaw Source: The African Archaeological Review, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Mar., 1997), p. 17
External links
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