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In response to
"heh, nice :) -- nm"
by
Beryllium
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LYC, this was the result of a 45-minute lecture. It was really quite interesting but nothing I could really distill from the recording.
Posted by
Meg (aka Mojave)
Sep 29 '23, 20:35
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Distinguishing Early and Later Iron Age Cultures in Bassar (Togo)
using Mortuary Patterns and Ceramics
Dr. Philip de Barros
Technical difficulties prevented Dr. de Barros from showing his announced presentation on Coachella Valley pottery, so instead he spoke on his extensive studies of African iron cultures.
The focus of this paper was on the Bassar region of Northern Togo and whether the current Bassar population was descendant from the earlier, previously identified Dekpassanware people. Iron working has a long tradition in the region, dating back to around 400 BC and the technology and kilns were unique to the area, unlike any found in Europe and elsewhere. The site became a major production area around 1200 AD.
Much of Dr. Barros’ work involved burials found in a number of excavations and significant differences in burial methods indicated a distinct cultural difference. The earlier burials, identified as Dekpassanware, were in many cases scattered or moved aside, iron bracelets, anklets, and necklaces were seen in association. Men, woman, and children were buried together. There was little obvious orientation or positioning of the bodies, but this may have been due to later disturbance.
Dr. de Barros was told by local Bassar associates that this was very different to their burials, and this was seen in more recent sites. The Bassar have many types of cemetery varying by age and gender, spiritual leaders, or married or single. “Bad deaths’ such as drowning or being struck by lightning are buried at the location of death. Burials had some bracelets but not as many as the earlier sites and pots were found in association. Many were buried in chambers located at the bottom of narrow shafts.
In general it was felt that these were two distinctly different cultures.
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