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Palaeoenvironment and human population in West Africa: an international research project in Mali

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335

Palaeoenvironment and human population in West Africa:

an international research project in Mali

ERIC HUYSECOM"

FIGURE I (top, right). The banks ofthe Yam& sequence extending from the Pleistocene era to the 12th centuym).

F r ~ r m 2 (right). Excavation ofstrata doting bock to 8000 BC. PIGITRE 3 (top, left). MSA lithic indusfry (OSL Meon Age Estimate: 29,000i4300 BC).

FIGUKE 4 (ahove). Potteryfrom Danganduuloun rock shelter, 7th-

12th centuries AD.

* Department of Anthropology of tho University of Geneva, 1 2 Rue Gustave Revilliod, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland. eric. huysecomQan thro.unige.ch

ANTIQUITY 76 ( 2 0 0 2 ) : 335-6

available at https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00090396

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The site of Ounjougou, Mali, provides evidence of a variety of human activities. The geological and palaeoenvironmeIita1 sequence offers a wealth of micro and macro plant remains. All the requi- site elements for setting the cultural, climatic and environmental changes into chronological perspec- tive are gathered here. Since 1997, as part of the Paleoenvironment and Human Population of West Africa project, four seasons of field work have taken place, which confirm that investigation of the site will substantially modify our understand- ing of Dogon prehistory and history, and ultimately that of the whole of West Africa.

An international and multidisciplinary research team has been formed to exploit to the full thc potential of this remarkable site under the aus- pices of the UNESCO Mali and Swiss Commis- sions. Archaeological, ethno-archaeological and ethno-historic studies are currently being carried out by the Universities of Geneva (A. Gallay, E. Huysecom, A. Mayor, S. Ozainne, F. Raeli and A. Robert), Mali (D. Konate, 0. Sow) and Paris X- Nanterre (E. Boeda, S. Soriano), with the col- laboration of the Institut des Sciences humaines of Bamako (K. Sanogo) and the Mission Culturelle of Bandiagara (L. Cisse). Palaeo- environmental studies are directed by the Uni- versity of Angers (A. Ballouche), the geological aspect being handled by the University of Rouen (M. Rasse) and the Tnstitut national agronornique of Paris-Grignon (N. Fedoroff). An OSL dating programme is being conducted by Oxford [Jni- versity (S. Stokes).

Palaenmagnetic analyses and OSL dating will determine the chronology of quartz tools discov- ered in a stratified context, which are typologi- cally similar to those found in Olduwai in East Africa. Last year, OSL datings of sedimentary sam- ples confirmed the existence of several Middle Paleolithic periods dating from between fi0,ooo

and 29,000 IJC. These revealed a typo-technical evolution as yet unknown in West Africa.

Ceramic sherds found in Holoccne layers dat- ing from 9000 and 8000 BC, together with grind- ing implements, bifacial arrowheads, quartz niicroliths and massive stone tools, substantially change our understanding of the period for this region. There then follows a hiatus. In the mid- dle of the 3rd millennium BC, populations are observed showing similarities with certain Neolithic popillatinns of Central Sahara. Some thousand years later, riverside stone structurcs appear, containing heavy grinding tools and a significant amount of charred remains of tall grasses, suggesting that millet cultivation was

known, although it is premature to sap so with certainty.

Excavations in protohistnric levels reveal the way of life of the populations wlio lived on the Bandiagara Plateau before the arrival of Lhe Dogon. Our next study aims to identify possible links be- tween these populations and those of the Inner Delta of the Niger and the cliffs of Bandiagara. Oral tradition reveals much about the history of these people and their migrations, and enables us to understand the links forged between groups and to determine their ancient boundaries.

A survey of traditional ceramic artefacts, an- cient and modern. collected on historical sites or simply from abandoned villages (known to us through oral tradition), shows the evolution of styles, and helps to develop hypotheses on the population of the plateau. An excavated rock- shelter. used for ritual purposes, has already yielded ceramic objects of high quality, compris- ing several chalices on tripods as well as iron arrowheads.

Finally, extensive ethno-archaeological research has been carried out into the traditions of mod- ern Dogon ceramics. Tradition A is typical of the farmers, as opposed to traditions B and H which are typical of Llie wives of ironsrniths. These arti- sans were either local or came from outside groups. In Gourma des Monts, the local native tradition, shared by the Rimaibe, is probably of Fulani ori- gin. The map of these tradition tendencies is very useful for understanding the archaeologiLa1 re- mains.

References

HriYSECohi E. 1996. nkniiverte rAcentc d'tm sito straLiCi6 holocbne Q Ouiijoiignii, Mali: r6sulhts des doux missions prsliminaitcs,

N p m e Akiima 4G: 93-71,

UO\bT.JING, N. FEDOROFF, A. G . U Y . D. KOS.~T& A. MAYOR. S. ~ZAISJVE, F. m L I , A. ROBERT. s. SOKrhNO. 0. sO\V &

s.

STOKER.

2001. Ounjoiigou (Mali): r6siiltats prdliminaircs c k la

quatrikme rmipagne de rcclierchcs, Sn;iss-Lit.~~fensfcin

F i i i ~ i i ~ l i ~ l i i ~ i i fvr A,r.l~oeoIog'u~d Research Abmad, luhresbcricht

2000: 105-50.

dogon et dogon sur le plateau de Bandiagara (Mali), in Roost-

Vischer et al. [ed.): 224-43.

peuplement de 1'Afrique de l'Ouest au 8"'lC mill8naire av. J.-C.:

apport du gisenient d'Oiinjniigou (Vali), in Y. nrnz, A. M a p .

L. Rnnst-Vischer & C. Tli6vovo;. (erl,), Fi~l:schiJngspaitrit.r~.u~iu~~n

- Purlenoriuls Abrd-Sud. Forurn suisse des ujricarristcs 3: 305-21. Miinster: Ln' Verlag.

Evolution pal6oclimatiqix et peiiplenient hinnaiii en Afiiqiie

de l'Ouest: le site d'Ouijougou (Mali) ilu Palholilllique. in

Roost-Vischer ef ul. (ed.): 203-23.

und Grenzen - Passages etfrontieres. Forum suisse des

africanisfes 2. Miinster: LST Verlag.

HLWSECOM E., E. BoiJ).h, K. DEFORC!$ H. DOLITRELEPONT, A.

MAYOR, A. & E. HUYSECOM. 1999. llistoire dcs peuplements pre-

W L : , F. b E. 111JYS~Cobl. 2001. Nouvelles hypothhses SUT le

ROBERT, A,, S. SOIUWO N. F'i330ROr;I; & E. HLWSECOM. 1999.

ROOST-VISCHER, L., A. hLIYOR & D. HENRICHSEN [ed.]. 1999. Briicken

available at https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00090396

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