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The emergence of pottery in Africa during the tenth millennium cal BC: new evidence from Ounjougou (Mali)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

E. Huysecom ,
M. Rasse ,
L. Lespez ,
K. Neumann ,
A. Fahmy ,
A. Ballouche ,
S. Ozainne ,
M. Maggetti ,
Ch. Tribolo  and
S. Soriano
E. Huysecom*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Ecology, University of Geneva, Geneva, CH-1211, Switzerland (Email: [email protected]; [email protected])
M. Rasse
Affiliation:
Lab. Ledra, CNRS-UMR IDEES 6228, University of Rouen, Mont St-Aignan, F-76821, France, and lab. AnTET – Arscan UMR 7041 CNRS, University of Paris-X Nanterre, F-92023, France (Email: [email protected])
L. Lespez
Affiliation:
Lab. Geophen-LETG-UMR 6554 CNRS, University of Caen-Basse Normandie, Caen, F-14000, France (Email: [email protected])
K. Neumann
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Goethe University, D-60323 Frankfurt, Germany (Email: [email protected])
A. Fahmy
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Helwan, Cairo, Egypt (Email: [email protected])
A. Ballouche
Affiliation:
Lab. Environmental Studies on Anthropogenic Systems (LEESA/UA), University of Angers, Angers, F-49000, France (Email: [email protected])
S. Ozainne
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Ecology, University of Geneva, Geneva, CH-1211, Switzerland (Email: [email protected]; [email protected])
M. Maggetti
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, CH-1700, Switzerland (Email: [email protected])
Ch. Tribolo
Affiliation:
CRP2A, UMR 5060, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, F-33607, France (Email: [email protected])
S. Soriano
Affiliation:
Lab. AnTET – Arscan UMR 7041 CNRS, University of Paris-X Nanterre, F-92023, France (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

New excavations in ravines at Ounjougou in Mali have brought to light a lithic and ceramic assemblage that dates from before 9400 cal BC. The authors show that this first use of pottery coincides with a warm wet period in the Sahara. As in East Asia, where very early ceramics are also known, the pottery and small bifacial arrowheads were the components of a new subsistence strategy exploiting an ecology associated with abundant wild grasses. In Africa, however, the seeds were probably boiled (then as now) rather than made into bread.

Keywords

AfricaSaharaSub-SaharanSahelEarly Holocenebifacial arrowheadsceramics
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 83 , Issue 322 , December 2009 , pp. 905 - 917
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2009

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