was found at Mege in layers dating between the 14th and 16th centuries cal AD.
Economic activities in the firki-plains changed over time. While the Later Stone Age/Neolithic layers hint to a somewhat nomadic liveway with recurring occupation of the sites, permanent settlements seem to have existed with the onset of the Iron Age around 500 cal BC.
In Kursakata domesticated cattle is present from the lowest layer, ovicapridae from layer - 4.00 m. Small antelopes and birds were hunted, but the main activity seems to have been fishing.A figurine depicting a horse was found at Mege in layers dating between the 14th and 16th centuries cal AD.
The archaeobotanical analysis at Kursakata has shown, that rice is present in all layers. Up to now it is not clear whether it is a wild or domesticated variety but wild rice is still harvested in the area around Dikwa today. Pennisetum was also identified in all of the layers and seemingly is domesticated from the lowest cultural layer onwards. However, 14C-dates have only been obtained from pennisetum-samples dating to the Iron Age, thus it remains to be proven whether pennisetum remains in the lower layers do date to the respective periods or are actually intrusions from above. The drawing below shows a specimen form from layer -4.80 m.
Wild grasses (Paniceae) were also found. Sorghum only occurs in layers which date to the 16th century and later. An indication of possibly wetter conditions is a fruit - Vitex - which today grows only further south in areas with higher rainfall, but of course human transport cannot be ruled out. Yet also the faunal remains indicate a wetter environment than today. Besides the shallow water species Clarias, Polypterus (e.g. bottom right), Heterotis, and Gymnarchus (e.g. bottom left), there are a large number of fish remains of Lates niloticus and Hydrocynus. The latter taxa need deep, well oxygenated and permanent water.
Together with the faunal remains the fish species demonstrate, that the sites were quite likely occupied during all seasons of the year, yet, as can be seen in the case of Mege, with interruptions. The settlers raised cattle and grew crops. Additionally they made use of the ample aquatic resources and the abundant wild edible grasses in the area.
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