Universität zu Köln

Lupo, Karen D., Kiahtipes, Christopher A., Schmitt, Dave N., Ndanga, Jean-Paul, Young, D. Craig and Simiti, Bernard (2018). An elusive record exposed: radiocarbon chronology of late Holocene human settlement in the northern Congo Basin, southern Central African Republic. Azania, 53 (2). S. 209 - 228. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. ISSN 1945-5534

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Abstract

Archaeological surveys and excavations in the NGotto Forest Reserve, Central African Republic, discovered 98 artefact concentrations or cultural features that included ceramic scatters, iron-ore mines and iron smelting features. These investigations provide, for the first time, a series of radiocarbon dates that chronicle the timing and context of prehistoric occupation along the northern margin of the Congo Basin rain forest in the Central African Republic. Thirty-three age estimates from 19 sites are distributed throughout the late Holocene and together document 2500 years of occupations. A number of the dates are from iron extraction and processing features that reflect extensive pre-colonial use of the area between about AD 1750 and 1840, while a radiocarbon date of 217937 BP in direct association with pottery signals settlement by ceramic-bearing peoples perhaps as early as 350 cal. BC. Three radiocarbon dates from two sites reflect occupations during the purported hiatus and reduction in regional forest populations c. 1400-800 BP and five dates from four additional sites in southern Central African Republic rain forests also fall during this interval. In concert with scrutiny of summed probability distributions and potential artefacts embedded within the radiocarbon calibration curve, the number of these dates question the reality of this occupational hiatus, at least in the north-central Congo Basin.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Lupo, Karen D. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kiahtipes, Christopher A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schmitt, Dave N. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ndanga, Jean-Paul UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Young, D. Craig UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Simiti, Bernard UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-202399
DOI:	10.1080/0067270X.2018.1471798
Journal or Publication Title:	Azania
Volume:	53
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 209 - 228
Date:	2018
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Place of Publication:	ABINGDON
ISSN:	1945-5534
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language RAIN-FOREST; FARMERS; DATES; IRON; VIEW; AGE Multiple languages Archaeology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20239