AN ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF LARGE POTS IN DAWAKIN TOFA, KANO STATE.
AN ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF LARGE POTS IN DAWAKIN TOFA, KANO STATE.
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Date
2012-12
Authors
ISA, Aliyu Adamu
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Abstract
Archaeological researches in Kano State in the last 3 decades that tried to infer the use to
which some excavated large pots must have been put, faced problems. These include incomplete
analysis and correlated study of the vessels, lack of wide circulation of reports of past researches
and changes associated with cultural contexts as well as technical systems of pottery
manufacture of the people involved. Almost all of these pots were recovered through poor rescue
excavation with no accompanying archaeological reports. Through the use of methods such as
ethnographic survey, oral tradition, and archaeological study, my research on the
ethnoarchaeological study of large pots carried out at Dawakin Tofa 20km away from Kano City
indicates that the activities of the dominant potters in the area (Bambadawa- Fulani) resulted in
the spread and subsequent excavation of these large pots in the Kano area. The research
scrutinized the process of pottery manufacture in the area through observation and questioning
specified behavior that might have accounted for the archaeological material culture patterning
those pots. Through this, it was ascertained that the pots seem to be similar in form; groove,
incised decorations, and the use of slip are still practiced. Contextually, the pots were deeply
buried because the only documented pot (excavated at 210cm depth) have no cultural layer
above the one it was excavated. Thus, indicating that it was intentionally buried contrary to the
idea of an abandoned dyeing pot which could have been covered by natural sedimentation
process. The pots were perhaps used for ritual purposes because they are also related to ritual
sites. However, ethnoarchaeology is not an end in itself but one of the many tools which can be
used to refine our explanation and understanding of the past. Careful collection and preservation
of cultural products, proper Historical documentation for empirical data base is recommended
because contextual information matter most to archaeologists.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA-NIGERIA.
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A) DEGREE IN
ARCHAEOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY.
DECEMBER, 2012
Keywords
ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL,, LARGE POTS,, DAWAKIN TOFA, ,, KANO STATE