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| Auteurs principaux: | , |
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| Format: | Recurso digital |
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Zenodo
2025
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| Accès en ligne: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17770787 |
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Table des matières:
- The Nok culture, flourishing in central Nigeria from approximately 1500 BCE to 500 CE, represents a pivotal period in West African history, marked by the concomitant emergence of sophisticated iron metallurgy and distinctive terracotta artistry. This paper investigates the period around 1000 BCE, positing it as a "crucible" moment where these two innovations converged to fundamentally reshape West African societies. By analyzing archaeological evidence of iron production sites, the stylistic and iconographic features of terracotta sculptures, and their spatial and chronological distribution, we explore the intricate relationship between technological advancement and socio-cultural transformation. The adoption of iron tools revolutionized agriculture, warfare, and resource exploitation, while the enigmatic terracotta figures likely played significant roles in ritual, status representation, and social cohesion. This study argues that the synergy between iron technology and terracotta art laid the foundations for complex social structures, emergent political systems, and enduring cultural expressions, thereby serving as a genesis point for formative cultures across West Africa. Understanding this transformative era provides crucial insights into the indigenous development trajectories of the continent, challenging Eurocentric narratives of cultural diffusion and emphasizing the profound innovative capacities of early African societies.