Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

Sonderforschungsbereich 268 a project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Teilprojekt C7

Archaeological research in Northeastern Nigeria

Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Seminar für Vor- und Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas Robert-Mayer-Str. 1 D-60054 Frankfurt am Main Tel./Fax: 0049-(0)69-28582

Anthropomorphic clay figurine from settlement mound of Mege, Ngala LGA, Borno State, Nigeria

Since 1991 the Africa section of the Prehistory Departement of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University at Frankfurt am Main, Germany, is engaged in research in Northeastern Nigeria, specifically Borno and Yobe States. During various fieldtrips a large number of sites have been sampled. Research concentrated on three areas:

• First, excavations started around the present town of Gajiganna, NE of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Here various Later Stone Age and Early Iron Age sites were discovered.

• The second region are vast clay plains (locally called firki), south of Lake Chad, were four extensive mound sites have been trenched. Research here concentrated on the Later Stone Age layers in those mounds but also on Iron Age and Medieval periods up to the onset of Colonial times. Additionally, considerable attention was given to the social and political structures of the present societies, as various cultural influences both from the islamic empire of Borno as well as the local indigenious traditions merge in this area.

• The third area is the region around River Yobe, where
  the Dufuna Canoe - "Africas oldest boat" - has been discovered.

Work in Nigeria is in close cooperation with the University of Maiduguri and the National Commission of Museums and Monuments.

Version 2.0, March 1997