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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*
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])

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.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2009

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