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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The International Factor at Igbo-Ukwu
Author:Sutton, John E.G.ISNI
Year:1991
Periodical:African Archaeological Review
Volume:9
Pages:145-160
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:Bronze Age
prehistory
Anthropology and Archaeology
External link:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01117219
Abstract:Archaeomineralogical fieldwork in southeastern Nigeria combined with metallurgical analyses has now all but confirmed the local provenance of most of the metals used in manufacturing the bronze and copper vessels, ornaments and sculptures which were kept and buried at Igbo-Ukwu in about the 9th or 10th century AD. This may further support the views that the technical skills and artistic inspiration of Igbo-Ukwu were largely locally evolved. Yet the lack of prototypes remains disconcerting. Such a large collection of exquisite bronze artwork is unparalleled for this region at that period; and attempts to explain the circumstances which gave rise to Igbo-Ukwu remain unsatisfactory. It is argued here that whatever local factors may have obtained at that time, there was also an international one. Presumably this region was for a period producing a rare and geographically specific mineral (silver?) then in high demand in the wider world. The bronzes may be, in effect, the by-product of that mining and production for export. It is suggested that the principal trade routes then may not have crossed the Sahara to Muslim North Africa but may have run eastward from the Lake Chad region to the Christian countries of the Nile. There may be a hint of this in certain of the bronze forms. Moreover, contact with Egypt, if not indirectly with lands beyond, is demonstrated at Igbo-Ukwu by the vast numbers of imported beads. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. also in French.
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