On the early Iron Age in southern Cameroon: the sites of Akonétye

Meister, Conny; Eggert, Manfred K. H.

doi:10.3213/1612-1651-10109

Cited by 23 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The decoration technique identified on some fragments of Site 2 is the peigne gouge. As pointed out by [46], this coincides with the Early Iron Age, a period during which [47] noticed a demographic explosion of metallurgists in West Congo Basin forests. Compared to Site 3, where most of the potsherds were discovered close to current ground level, the soil of Site 2 showed a much more scattered and deeper distribution of artefacts.…”

Section: Anthracology and Archaeology Outcomes: The Likely Human-indumentioning

confidence: 63%

How Tightly Linked Are Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) Patches to Anthropogenic Disturbances in Southeastern Cameroon?

Bourland

Cerisier

Daïnou

et al. 2015

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:While most past studies have emphasized the relationships between specific forest stands and edaphic factors, recent observations in Central African moist forests suggested that an increase of slash-and-burn agriculture since 3000-2000 BP (Before Present) could be OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 294 the main driver of the persistence of light-demanding tree species. In order to examine anthropogenic factors in the persistence of such populations, our study focused on Pericopsis elata, an endangered clustered timber species. We used a multidisciplinary approach comprised of botanical, anthracological and archaeobotanical investigations to compare P. elata patches with surrounding stands of mixed forest vegetation ("out-zones"). Charcoal samples were found in both zones, but were significantly more abundant in the soils of patches. Eleven groups of taxa were identified from the charcoals, most of them also present in the current vegetation. Potsherds were detected only inside P. elata patches and at different soil depths, suggesting a long human presence from at least 2150 to 195 BP, as revealed by our charcoal radiocarbon dating. We conclude that current P. elata patches most likely result from shifting cultivation that occurred ca. two centuries ago. The implications of our findings for the dynamics and management of light-demanding tree species are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Anthracology and Archaeology Outcomes: The Likely Human-indumentioning

confidence: 63%

How Tightly Linked Are Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) Patches to Anthropogenic Disturbances in Southeastern Cameroon?

Bourland

Cerisier

Daïnou

et al. 2015

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1). Apart from several pits and a ditch, two shallow features with depths of approximately 1.00 m (AKO 05/2 and AKO 05/6) were excavated in 2005 (Eggert et al 2006;Meister and Eggert 2008). Both features displayed an elongated, roughly rectangular layout (AKO 05/6 in Fig.…”

Section: Akonétyementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Features with similar finds have also been discovered in other parts of the forested regions of southern Cameroon, for instance, at Kribi-Mpoengu (Gouem Gouem and Lavachery 2006;Gouem Gouem 2008) and Obobogo (Jauze 1944a, b). Until the discovery of the grave features at Akonétye in 2005 (Meister and Eggert 2008), however, the function of these features remained enigmatic. The archaeological site at CampoEglise, for example, was interpreted as a site cultuel (Oslisly 2001: 47;Nlend Nlend 2005: 10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The most common archaeological features of southern Cameroon 1 are shaft-like pits ranging in depth from 2-3 m. They usually contain ceramics, stones, macrobotanical remains and charcoal, but also slag, tuyère fragments and in some cases iron objects such as rings, axes and knives (Meister and Eggert 2008). Apart from these pits, elongated shallow features with rich iron and ceramic furnishings have been excavated at Akonétye (Eggert et al 2006;Meister 2007;Meister and Eggert 2008), Campo-Eglise (Zana 1999(Zana /2000Nlend Nlend 2005;Oslisly 2006;Oslisly et al 2006;Meister and Eggert 2008), Mouanko-Lobethal (Williams-Schmid 2000;Meister and Eggert 2008) and Mouanko-Epolo (Meister and Eggert 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from these pits, elongated shallow features with rich iron and ceramic furnishings have been excavated at Akonétye (Eggert et al 2006;Meister 2007;Meister and Eggert 2008), Campo-Eglise (Zana 1999(Zana /2000Nlend Nlend 2005;Oslisly 2006;Oslisly et al 2006;Meister and Eggert 2008), Mouanko-Lobethal (Williams-Schmid 2000;Meister and Eggert 2008) and Mouanko-Epolo (Meister and Eggert 2008). Features with similar finds have also been discovered in other parts of the forested regions of southern Cameroon, for instance, at Kribi-Mpoengu (Gouem Gouem and Lavachery 2006;Gouem Gouem 2008) and Obobogo (Jauze 1944a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Remarks on Early Iron Age Burial Sites from Southern Cameroon

Meister

2010

Afr Archaeol Rev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For the first time, graves dating to the Early Iron Age between 2000 BP and 1700 BP have been discovered in the southern Cameroonian rain forest. The features in question, from the sites of Akonétye and Campo, were almost identically furnished with iron objects and ceramic pots. Other features with more or less corresponding finds have been discovered at Mouanko-Lobethal, Mouanko-Epolo, Kribi-Mpoengu, and Yaoundé-Obobogo. The spatial distribution of these sites and their near synchronous dating suggest that a particular burial rite was practiced over a considerable area of southern Cameroon during the Early Iron Age. RésuméDes inhumations datées du premier âge du fer (entre 2000 BP et 1700 BP) ont pour la première fois été découvertes dans la forêt tropicale au sud du Cameroun. Ces structures, trouvées dans les sites d'Akonétye et de Campo, sont très proches et sont composées d'objets en fer et en céramique. D'autres structures, qui présentent certaines similarités, ont été trouvées à Mouanko-Lobethal, Mouanko-Epolo, Kribi-Mpoengu et Yaoundé-Obobogo. La répartition géographique de ces sites ainsi que leur cadre chronologique suggèrent l'existence d'un rite funéraire original pratiqué au cours du premier âge du fer et ce, sur un vaste secteur du Sud Cameroun.

show abstract

Population affinities in pre‐colonial West Africa: The case of the burial cave Iroungou (Gabon, 14th–15th century CE)

Mounier,

Villotte,

Kacki

et al. 2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionOur knowledge of the populations of sub‐Saharan Africa in the periods before European colonization is limited. Few archeological sites containing human remains have been identified, and written sources for these periods are rare. The discovery in 2018 of the Iroungou sepulchral cave (Gabon), whose use predates the arrival of the Portuguese (14th–15th centuries CE), is an exceptional source of information: at least 28 individuals associated with numerous metal artifacts were found there. The anthropobiological remains were left in situ, but the eight best preserved crania were digitized.ObjectivesThis study focuses on the population affinities of these crania, whose morphology was described using 237 landmarks.Materials and MethodsGeometric morphometric analyses were used to compare the eight Iroungou specimens with 154 individuals representing 12 well‐defined African populations. After alignment (Generalized Procrustes Analysis), morphological affinity was assessed using Euclidean and Mahalanobis distances, and posterior probabilities of population membership (discriminant analysis).ResultsResults indicate that the eight Iroungou crania have, on average, more affinity with Bayaka Pygmy, followed by Central African Bantu. Nevertheless, individually, the Iroungou specimens show an important morphological variation and the eight crania can be separated into different affinity groups: Bayaka and Central African Bantu, KhoeSan, and East‐African Bantu. Finally, one individual presents strong affinity with Somalis.ConclusionThis phenetic mapping of the Iroungou sample raises questions about the profile of the individuals deposited in the cave in a geographical area known for the Loango pre‐colonial kingdom, which ruling class seemed to have had privileged relationships with the Pygmy populations.

show abstract

On the early Iron Age in southern Cameroon: the sites of Akonétye

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

How Tightly Linked Are Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) Patches to Anthropogenic Disturbances in Southeastern Cameroon?

How Tightly Linked Are Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae) Patches to Anthropogenic Disturbances in Southeastern Cameroon?

Remarks on Early Iron Age Burial Sites from Southern Cameroon

Population affinities in pre‐colonial West Africa: The case of the burial cave Iroungou (Gabon, 14th–15th century CE)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About