Imprints of the Archaeology of Northern Nigeria: Landscape, society and crafts around Kirfi, Bauchi region

Sule Sani, Abubakar

doi:doi:10.30861/9781407358925

Imprints of the Archaeology of Northern Nigeria: Landscape, society and crafts around Kirfi, Bauchi region

Abubakar Sule Sani

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Abubakar Sule Sani’s pioneering book combines archaeological, ethnographic and historical data to construct a compelling narrative about the people of the Bauchi region in northern Nigeria. It deploys a social theory of frontier to understand how Borno and other Hausa states impacted on the development of cultural process that have evolved to dominate across the Savannah region over the past 1,500 years. The research presents a cultural typology from pottery to explain social connections in the past, which will be of interest not only for archaeologists, but also for art historians and anthropologists. It evaluates the impact of Islam and the 19th century Jihad of Uthman Ibn Fodio on settlement patterns and the operation of political systems across prominent Sahel and Savannah states in the past. Sule’s book therefore contributes to the understanding of the peoples of Bauchi hitherto unknown archaeologically, arguing that the combined use of oral and material sources is important for identifying cultural developments in most African societies where past written data are deficient.

Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1. Introduction
- 1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 Kirfi and its Settlement History
- 1.2 Theoretical Framework
- 1.3 Scope and methodology
- 1.4 Concluding Remarks
2. Background of Research
- 2.0 Introduction
- 2.1. Environmental settings
  - 2.1.1 Climate
  - 2.1.2 Geology and soils
  - 2.1.3 Topography and Drainage
  - 2.1.4 Vegetation
- 2.2 An Anthropological view of Southern Bauchi
- 2.3 Outline of West Africa’s early history
  - 2.3.1 Archaeology of Lake Chad Basin (Kanem-Borno)
  - 2.3.2 Archaeology and History of Hausaland
  - 2.3.3 History of Jukun/Kwararafa
  - 2.3.4 Kagalan in History
  - 2.3.5 The Archaeology of Bauchi region
- 2.4 Concluding remarks
3. Recent Cultural Settings and Context of Productions
- 3.0 Introduction
- 3.1 Iron working
  - 3.1.1 Iron Smelting
  - 3.1.2 The smelting space
- 3.2 Blacksmithing
  - 3.2.1 Roles and social organisation
  - 3.2.2 Learning process
  - 3.2.3 Forging materials
  - 3.2.4 Smithing workshops
  - 3.2.5 The forging process
  - 3.2.6 Products and marketing
- 3.3 Pottery making
  - 3.3.1 Learning and apprenticeship
  - 3.3.2 Raw material sourcing
  - 3.3.3 Tools and materials
  - 3.3.4 Clay preparation
  - 3.3.5 Forming and shaping
  - 3.3.6 Finishing
  - 3.3.7 Decorations and their motifs
  - 3.3.8 Firing
  - 3.3.9 post-firing treatments
  - 3.3.10 Distribution and marketing
  - 3.3.11 Products and function
  - 3.3.12 Discard and symbolism
- 3.4 Textile production
  - 3.4.1 Raw materials
  - 3.4.2 Tools and space
  - 3.4.3 Learning and training
  - 3.4.4 Cotton spinning
  - 3.4.5 Weaving
  - 3.4.6 Dyes and dyeing
  - 3.4.7 Product marketing
- 3.5 Concluding remarks
4. Field Walking and Survey
- 4.0 Introduction
- 4.1 Methodology
- 4.2 Site surveys
  - 4.2.1 Tudun Dangawo
  - 4.2.2 Kagalan
  - 4.2.3 Kirfin Sama Hill
- 4.4 Concluding remarks
5. The Archaeological Excavations
- 5.0 Introduction
- 5.1 General methodological overview
- 5.2 Presentation of Sites
  - 5.2.1 Tudun Dangawo (TDG)
  - 5.2.2 Kirfin Sama Hill (KSH)
  - 5.2.3 Kagalan (KGL)
- 5.3 Overview of excavation units
  - 5.3.1 The Tudun Dangawo Excavation Unit
  - 5.3.2 Kirfin Sama Hill Excavation Unit
  - 5.3.3 Kagalan Excavation Unit
- 5.4 Concluding Remarks
6. Pottery
- 6 Introduction
- 6.0 Presentation of assemblage
- 6.1 Methodology used for analysis
  - 6.1.2 Diagnostic sherds
  - 6.1.3 Introducing Sherd attributes
  - 6.1.4 Setting out basic terminologies and definition of other attributes
  - 6.1.5 Classification based on Part of the Vessel
  - 6.4.1 Description of assemblage
  - 6.4.2 Vessel distribution
  - 6.4.3 Classification of Handle Types
- 6.5 Characteristics based on sherd thickness
- 6.6 Characteristics based on fabric (texture and inclusion)
- 6.7 Characteristics based on colour
- 6.8 Characteristics based on surface treatment
- 6.9 Classification based on decorative motif
  - 6.8.1 Variation in decoration – roulette
  - 6.8.2 Paint analysis
  - 6.8.3 Incised motifs
- 6.10 Clay material characterisation
- 6.11 Concluding Remarks
7. Finds other than Pottery
- 7.0 Introduction
- 7.1 Tudun Dangawo Settlement Site
  - 7.1.1 Ferrous Objects
  - 7.1.2 Slag
  - 7.1.3 Other metal objects
  - 7.1.4 Bone objects
  - 7.1.5 Stone objects
  - 7.1.6 Other stone objects
  - 7.1.7 Ceramic materials
  - 7.1.8 Burnt Clay-Daub
  - 7.1.9 Other Ceramics
  - 7.1.10 Unidentified materials
- 7.2 Kirfin Sama Hill
  - 7.2.1 Ferrous Objects
  - 7.2.2 Slag
  - 7.2.3 Other Metal Objects
  - 7.2.4 Bone/Shells object
  - 7.2.5 Bone objects
  - 7.2.6 Stone Objects
  - 7.2.7 Ceramics
  - 7.2.8 Others
  - 7.2.9 Glass
- 7.3 Kagalan
  - 7.3.1 Ferrous Objects
  - 7.3.2 Slag
  - 7.3.3 Other metal objects
  - 7.3.4 Bone and Shells objects
  - 7.3.5 Stone Objects
  - 7.3.6 Ceramics
- 7.4 Concluding remarks
8. Conclusion
Bibliography
Table of small finds for Tudun Dangawo
Table of small finds for Kirfin Sama Hill
Table of small finds for Kagalan
Table of various sherd decorations identified across all sites
Preliminary Analysis of Faunal Remains I: 2011
Preliminary Analysis of Faunal Remains II: 2013
Ceramic Thin Sections
Figure 1.1: Hausaland, Borno, Bauchi area and other important centres mentioned in the text (Adapted after Haour and Rossi 2010, figure 1.1).
Figure 1.2: West Chadic languages showing some of the southern Bauchi language groups.
Figure 1.3: Map showing the Hausa states – including the so-called Hausa Bakwai (Adapted from Lange 2004).
Figure 1.4: Kirfi (slaves, as a commodity, to its economy) and some important centres mentioned in the text (Adapted from Gronenborn 2011).
Figure 1.5: Map of important settlements and sites mentioned in the text.
Figure 1.6: Dye pits near Kirfin Kasa settlement.
Figure 2.1: Map showing some of the areas mentioned in the text (Adapted after Sule and Haour 2014).
Figure 2.2: Drainage system of southern Bauchi (Redrawn by Wulga Bulus, ABU Zaria).
Figure 2.3: Vegetational map of Nigeria (adapted from Udo 1970: 4).
Figure 2.4: Language group distribution in the Bauchi area (Giiwo is 137) – Kirfi and others mentioned (Lewis 2009).
Figure 2.5: Language group distribution in the Bauchi region (Showing other languages in central and northern Bauchi (Lewis 2009).
Figure 2.6: Appearance of ‘Kalam state’ in the 17th century AD (Source, John 1998).
Figure 3.1: A. Smelting furnace at Tekkira (near Kagalan site) and, B. schematic view of a type-furnace (after Schmidt 1997: 120, figure 5.7).
Figure 3.2: A: furnace at Yankari, like those visible at Tekkira (Aremu 1999). B: experimental use of furnace to smelt in Tanzania (after Schmidt 1997: 100, fig. 4.17).
Figure 3.3: Blacksmith in Kagalan at work.
Figure 3.4: finishing a pot formed on a mould by coiling technique – June 2010.
Figure 3.5: Final organisation and strategy for firing the finished products (Kagalan 2011).
Figure 3.6: Dyeing in Kano in progress.
Figure 4.1: Map of the region showing the sites studied.
Figure 4.2: Survey transects across the study zone.
Figure 4.3: Tudun Dangawo Site showing the distributional density of artefacts (River Gongola is the white area in the top left corner). The dotted line highlights areas with high density of cultural materials.
Figure 4.4: Views of the Kagalan settlement sites, showing stone walls, stone foundations, and the ruins of a former structure.
Figure 4.5: The rock shelter at Kagalan.
Figure 4.6: Monolithic structures at Kagalan.
Figure 4.7: One of the iron working ruins at Tekkira (near Kagalan settlement site), showing tuyère and furnace remains.
Figure 4.8: Ruins of stone walls blocking the corridor between the Kirfin Sama & Cheledi hills – Structural remains at Kirfin Sama Hill, identified locally as a mosque.
Figure 4.9: Location of dara – that is to say game board (two draught types).
Figure 4.10: Gujimba walling system.
Figure 5.1: Sketch of the Kirfi area showing the three excavated sites. Approx. Not to scale.
Figure 5.2: The gully near the Kirfin Sama Hill excavation exposed arranged stones and human jaw.
Figure 5.3: Tudun Dangawo sections at completion. A: North-Eastern walls (combined) & South-Western (combined) walls.
Figure 5.4: View of the Tudun Dangawo trench (showing south section) at completion.
Figure 5.5: Tudun Dangawo level 3 cattle skull.
Figure 5.6: Compacted daub feature and burnt area at Tudun Dangawo Level 5.
Figure 5.7: Concentration of bones in an in-filled context.
Figure 5.8: Kirfin Sama Hill sections at completion. A: South-Eastern (combined), B: North-Western (combined) walls.
Figure 5.9: Kirfin Sama Hill, north section at completion.
Figure 5.10: Kirfin Sama Hill, western section.
Figure 5.11: Kagalan excavations profile – A: North-Western walls, B: South-Eastern Walls.
Figure 5.12: The Kagalan site, west section at completion.
Figure 5.13: Kagalan site excavation at level 5 (showing the stone platform in situ).
Figure 5.14: Kagalan excavation east section at completion.
Figure 5.15: Graph showing chronological sequence of the Kirfi area (all dates within 2 sigma range).
Figure 6.1: Chart for the determination of rim angles for pots (Source: McIntosh 1995: fig. 3.6).
Figure 6.2: Rim Types from Kirfi sites (Not to Scale) Top Row: Simple rims (Group 1) a) S1 b) S2 c) S3 d) S4 e) S5. Second Row: Carinated rims (Group 2: f)), T-rims (Group 3: g)), thickened-out rims (Group 4: h) and i)), Lamp (Group 5: j)). Third Row: Eve
Figure 6.3: The D-type pot lid (right: a scheme showing a pot lid from Northeast Nigeria) – (Source Leith-Ross, 1970).
Figure 6.4: Occurrence of rim types at all sites. The vertical axis represents percentages.
Figure 6.5: Handle type from Kirfi sites. a: H1, b: H2a, c: H2b, d: H2c, e: H2c & f: H3 (d & e are sub-classes of the same type).
Figure 6.6: General site fabric distribution figures (organic + inorganic combined).
Figure 6.7: Sherd colour across all sites.
Figure 6.8: Schematic representation indicating preferential placement of decorations.
Figure 6.9: Distribution of Roulette decorations at Tudun Dangawo.
Figure 6.10: Distribution of Roulette decoration at Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 6.11: Distribution of Roulette decoration at Kagalan.
Figure 6.12: Distribution of Folded Strip Roulette types at all sites (Grand Total 528).
Figure 6.13: Incised sherds at Tudun Dangawo.
Figure 6.14: Incised sherds at Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 6.15: Incised sherds at Kagalan.
Figure 7.1: The distribution of small finds at Tudun Dangawo Settlement Site – (total 124).
Figure 7.2: Left: Metal objects from Tudun Dangawo site & the earliest known key from West Africa – Essouk-Tadmakka, Right, (after Nixon (ed.) 2017).
Figure 7.3: Stone objects; Pebbles (Zuza).
Figure 7.4: Left to right: Stone pebbles from Kagalan.
Figure 7.5: Smoking pipes from Tudun Dangawo. Upper row: A: Complete oval bowl, B-I: fragments of bowls, all decorated; Middle row A: A spheroid base with remnant of stem & hole, Lower row: A: Complete squared mouth stem, B-D complete mouth pieces.
Figure 7.6: Utilised sherds. Upper row: triangular utilised sherd, irregular rectangular shaped; Lower row: Circular pieces.
Figure 7.7: Tudun Dangawo specimens of burnt clay.
Figure 7.8: Miniature pot from Tudun Dangawo.
Figure 7.9: Showing other ceramic artefacts from Tudun Dangawo. A-Perforated object, B: Model pot, C: Terracotta. D-E: Sherd objects (right water jar, source Leith-Ross 1970).
Figure 7.10: Distribution of small finds at Kirfin Sama Hill – (total 63).
Figure 7.11: Metal objects from the Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 7.12: Ivory objects, cowries & glass objects from the Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 7.13: Stone tools from Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 7.14: Clay figurines from the Kirfin Sama Hill.
Figure 7.15: Smoking pipes from the Kirfin Sama Hill – (Last 2 below are made of ivory).
Figure 7.16: Spindle whorls (upper row – last has no hole), other ceramic objects (middle row), Clay disks (row below).
Figure 7.17: Distribution of small finds at the Kagalan – (Total 58).
Figure 7.18: Metal objects from the Kagalan.
Figure 7.19: Ceramic small finds from the Kagalan site.

Citable Link

Published: 2021

Publisher: BAR Publishing

ISBN(s)

9781407358925 (paper)
9781407358932 (ebook)

BAR Number: S3062

Imprints of the Archaeology of Northern Nigeria: Landscape, society and crafts around Kirfi, Bauchi region

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