Objective Knowledge of the last 1000 years in the West African Sahel comes largely from historical sources, which say that many regions were ruled by vast polities.The aim of my archaeological project is to seize how, in fact, lhe 'empires' of this region structured the landscape, and the movemenl of peoples, ideas, andthings, with a focus on the period AD 1200-1850. Is 'empire' really a useful term? I will confront historical evidence with archaeological data from one area atthe intersection of several polities: the dallols in Niger. This area is rich in remains, said to result from population movements and processes of religious andpolitical change, but these remains have been only briefly described so far. As this region is a key area of migrations and cross-influences, it is the ideal'laboratory' for exploring the materialisation of contacts and boundaries, through a mapping of material culture distributions.My project will approach these sites holistically, carrying out archaeological regional survey and prospection. Excavation will indicate chronology and culturalaffiliation. At lhe same time, I will take an interdisciplinary approach, using anthropological and oral-historical enquiries to obtain background information totest hypotheses generated by the archaeological data. Enquiries will assess how material culture can show group belonging and population shifts, andexamine the role of individuals called 'technical specialists'. This will help solve the current impasse in our understanding of vast empires which, though theyare historically known, remain poorly understood.My project will not just improve our knowledge of an almost-unknown part of the world, but thanks to its geographical location, interdisciplinary nature andstrong thematic framework, open up avenues of thinking about the relalion between archaeological and historical data, the mediation of relations throughartefacts, and the archaeology of empires, all widely-relevant research issues Fields of science humanitieshistory and archaeologyarchaeology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-SH6 - ERC Starting Grant - The study of the human past Call for proposal ERC-2010-StG_20091209 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA EU contribution € 729 402,00 Address EARLHAM ROAD NR4 7TJ Norwich United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Anne Claire Haour (Dr.) Administrative Contact Tracy Moulton (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA United Kingdom EU contribution € 729 402,00 Address EARLHAM ROAD NR4 7TJ Norwich See on map Region East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Anne Claire Haour (Dr.) Administrative Contact Tracy Moulton (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING United Kingdom EU contribution € 32 883,60 Address . FK9 4LA Stirling See on map Region Scotland Eastern Scotland Perth & Kinross and Stirling Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Eric Gibb (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES Belgium EU contribution € 65 804,40 Address AVENUE FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT 50 1050 Bruxelles / Brussel See on map Region Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Beata Bibrowska (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE Belgium EU contribution € 49 208,00 Address LEUVENSESTEENWEG 13 3080 Tervuren See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Luc Van Wassenhove (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITE ABDOU MOUMOUNI DE NIAMEY Niger EU contribution € 6 469,40 Address RIVE DROITE UNIVERSITE ABDOU MOUMOUNI 10896 Niamey See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Oumarou Ide (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITE D'ABOMEY-CALAVI Benin EU contribution € 9 393,60 Address CAMPUS UNIVERSITAIRES D ABOMEY 01 Abomey Calavi See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Sègbè Christophe Houssou (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
