A preliminary report of potsherd pavements in Northern Nigeria: a new light from Zigam hilltop site, Bauchi state, Nigeria

The use of potsherds as a pavement in rooms, kitchens, religion house, granaries, animal pens and passage areas is found commonly in Nigerian societies between the eleventh to sixteenth centuries CE. This practice is found mostly in swampy areas characterized by a waterlogged environment. It is also associated with religious practices in many societies. The goal of this paper is to explain the uniqueness of this practice at Zigam settlement in comparison with other archaeological sites where knowledge of potsherds pavement is obtainable in Nigeria, through the use of historical sources (oral tradition and written information); archaeological finds (including thin-section analysis) and features situated on the landscape of Zigam hilltop site.