During the project, several activities relating to the objectives were performed, including:
Professional training
The fellow received structured ‘learning through research’ training in optical microscopy, pXRF, and Scanning Electron Microscopy working on African materials in the lab, particularly, copper alloy casting moulds and crucibles from Morocco and Ghana, metal objects from Mali and iron slags from Nigeria. He now has expertise beyond the intermediate level to handle these types of equipment for analytical purposes and understand how they can produce data for answering research questions. In line with professional development, the fellow also made a trip to the University of Arizona in the archaeological science Lab of Professor David Killick, where he acquired expertise in identifying copper-related materials in archaeological and geological contexts.
Fieldwork/Museum visits
Direct fieldwork and visits to museums in West Africa were used to acquire the needed materials for the project. The fellow conducted fieldwork at Ile-Ife in Nigeria and excavated an iron smelting site. He visited the Natural History Museum of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where many archaeological materials from early works in the city are stored. Samples of iron slag and tuyère used in smelting and smithing, fired clay from the furnace ruins, and ceramics were brought to STARC for analysis. He also surveyed a mine in eastern Nigeria where geological samples were collected. The mine has been proposed as one of the sources of the 9th – 12th century bronze objects from eastern Nigeria. The sample will be processed to be included in the database for comparison to understand sources of archaeological copper-related materials. The fellow also visited the University of Ghana’s Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies Museum and the Ghana National Museum. Samples of possible brass crucibles and copper-related objects were selected from assemblages from archaeological sites in Ghana. The samples were brought to STARC for analysis. Samples of copper objects from Gao – a medieval urban site in Mali, were also brought to STARC for the study. In addition to the analysis done at the STARC facility, selected samples of the copper objects from Mali were sent to Leuven for Lead Isotope analysis – the technique that helps to identify the source of the metal. All relevant formal export licenses were obtained and deposited at STARC.
Dissemination
The results of the analysis are being prepared for publication. Two assemblages are currently in the manuscript stage. We will continue working on these and ensure that they are published as soon as possible. Preliminary results of the iron metallurgy tradition at Ile-Ife were presented at the World of Iron Conference 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. A version of the results is to be presented at forthcoming two conferences: The Society of the History of Technology (SHOT) Conference, in July 2024; and the Lagos Studies Association (LSA) 2024 annual conference, in June 2024.
