The settlement mound of Birnin Lafiya: new evidence from the eastern arc of the Niger River

Anne Haour; Sam Nixon; Didier N'Dah; Carlos Magnavita; Alexandre Livingstone Smith

doi:10.15184/aqy.2016.7

The settlement mound of Birnin Lafiya: new evidence from the eastern arc of the Niger River

Anne Haour, Sam Nixon, Didier N'Dah, Carlos Magnavita, Alexandre Livingstone Smith

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

The development of complex social organisation and trade networks during the first and second millennia AD in the Sahel region of West Africa has long been hampered by a paucity of reliable data. Investigations at Birnin Lafiya, a large settlement mound of this period on the eastern arc of the Niger River, help to fill this gap. The site can now be placed within its broader landscape, and discoveries of early mud architecture, circular structures, human burial remains, personal ornamentation and striking potsherd pavements can be contrasted with contemporary sites both within the inland Niger region and at Ife to the south.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	695-710
Number of pages	16
Journal	Antiquity
Volume	90
Issue number	351
Early online date	17 May 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2016.7
Publication status	Published - Jun 2016

Keywords

Niger
fourth–thirteenth centuries AD
settlement mound
potsherd pavement
trade networks
social organisation

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10.15184/aqy.2016.7

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Accepted for publication in current form
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Anne Haour
- A.Haouruea.acuk
- Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas - Professor
- Area Studies - Member
- Centre for African Art and Archaeology - Member
- ClimateUEA - Member
Person: Member, Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching & Research

CROSSROADS: Crossroads of empires: archaeology, material culture and socio-political relationships in West Africa
Haour, A.
CEC (Framework 7)
1/01/11 → 31/12/15
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "The settlement mound of Birnin Lafiya: new evidence from the eastern arc of the Niger River",

abstract = "The development of complex social organisation and trade networks during the first and second millennia AD in the Sahel region of West Africa has long been hampered by a paucity of reliable data. Investigations at Birnin Lafiya, a large settlement mound of this period on the eastern arc of the Niger River, help to fill this gap. The site can now be placed within its broader landscape, and discoveries of early mud architecture, circular structures, human burial remains, personal ornamentation and striking potsherd pavements can be contrasted with contemporary sites both within the inland Niger region and at Ife to the south. ",

keywords = "Niger, fourth–thirteenth centuries AD, settlement mound, potsherd pavement, trade networks, social organisation",

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AU - Livingstone Smith, Alexandre

PY - 2016/6

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KW - fourth–thirteenth centuries AD

KW - settlement mound

KW - potsherd pavement

KW - trade networks

KW - social organisation

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JO - Antiquity

JF - Antiquity

SN - 0003-598X

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ER -

The settlement mound of Birnin Lafiya: new evidence from the eastern arc of the Niger River

Abstract

Keywords

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Profiles

Anne Haour

Projects

CROSSROADS: Crossroads of empires: archaeology, material culture and socio-political relationships in West Africa

Cite this