Tichitt-Walata and the Middle Niger - PanAfrican Association of ...

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432 Kevin C. MacDonald 2 I } I I--- -- -- --< 20cm Figure 2 Typical Wares of the Kobadi Facies: a= pivoted stylus and impressed fabric decor [1251-1], b= twine impressed, pivoted comb and impressed fabric decor [1251-1], c=simple incised and impressed cord-wrapped stick decor [Beretouma 1121-2], d= complex punctate and stabbed comb decor [Tiabel Goudiodie]. Figure 3 Typical Beretouma Ware: a=stabbed comb and twisted cord roulette [Kolima-Sud], b=rocker comb, simple incision and twisted cord roulette [Beretouma 1121-5], c= rocker comb and twisted cord roulette [Kolima-Sud). Figure 4 Typical Wares of the Ndondi Tossokel Facies: a= cord-wrapped stick roulette [Kolima-Sud], b=simple incised and impressed cord-wrapped stick [1251-2], c=cord-wrapped stick roulette [Ndondi Tossokel 1119-1]. Figure 5. Dhar Tichitt Tradition Ceramics from the Chebka and Arriane Phases: a= cord-wrapped stick roulette [Munson site 16], b= cord-wrapped stick roulette [Munson site 22], c= impressed cord wrapped stick [Munson site 22], d= simple incision and cord-wrapped cord roulette [Munson site 46].
Tichitt- Walata and the Middle Niger: evidence for cultural contact in the second millennium Be 433 argue for some sort of intentional concentration of spicules in the clay: either through the intentional gathering of clay from dry season floodplains'where dead sponges are clustered, or through the physical grinding, burning or macerating of whole specimens. The latter practices have been demonstrted along the White Nile between 3500 and 1500 BP by Adamson et at. (1987). Sponge spicule tempering would appear to be a distinctive technology, associated with peoples exploiting riverine resources. Aside from pottery, Kobadi facies localities possess a plethora of bone points, hooks and (more rarely) harpoons. Additionally, polished stone points are known from excavated contexts (Raimbault and Dutour 1987; MacDonald 1994). Stope grinders and objets de parure are rare. Geometric microliths though present at earlier localities (i.e. Tiabel Goudiodie), seem to disappear in favour of a crude assortment of retouched flakes at later sites (e.g. Kobadi and Kolima-Sud). All Kobadi facies sites occur within the bounds of the ancient floodplain (Fig. 1). All of the sites are kjokkenmoddings, and were probably initially chosen for occupation because of their elevation above the surrounding plain. At Kobadi, excavations by Raimbault have shown that the original site surface was 1-2 m above the floodplain (Raimbault and Dutour 1989), and similar results have been achieved by our team at Kolima Sud ' (MacDonald 1994, MacDonald and Van Neer 1994). Additionally, at Kobadi it appears that the habitation area stretched along the top of the bone midden and burial area, although no post holes or daub fragments have yet been reported. 1251-1 follows the same pattern as Kobadi in terms of shape, except that it would have been situated on an islet within a lake. Tiabel Goudiodie is an enormous shell midden of over 3m in height situated directly beside the ancient Fala de Molodo channel. In size, the sites of the Kobadi facies far exceed their peers, ranging between 1.9 and 7.6 ha in expanse. This may be due to greater population aggregations at Kobadi localities, a permanent as opposed to a seasonal occupation of the sites, their depositional nature (kjokkenmoddings), or to a longer period of occupation for these sites (with horizontal displacements). Economically, the Kobadi facies would appear to be 'hunter-fisher', with catfish, Tilapia, Nile perch and aquatic mammals dominating faunal assemblages (Raimbault et at. 1987, MacDonald and Van Neer 1994). Beretouma facies, Kobadi tradition (Fig. 3) The Beretouma facies is perhaps best regarded as a phase of the Kobadi tradition rather than as a discrete entity. It is characterised by distinctive simple rimmed, open bowls with internal diameters varying between 34 and 48 cm, although a few smaller vessels (c.24 cm) are known. Their decor is highly distinctive, consisting of twisted and braided twine roulettes on their exterior, burnishing of their lip and interior, and the decoration of the interior with one rank of rocker comb decor. The vessels are also unique in being consistently black in colour (fired in a reducing atmosphere). In terms of temper, only 12% of such vessels recovered in the survey were grog tempered, the remainder were tempered with sponge. There are three localities located in the survey which bear quantities of Beretouma ware associated with Kobadi and Ndondi Tossokel ceramics. They are all of substantial size, the largest being the 12.5 ha site of Kolima Sud. The remaining two, 1121-4 and 1121-5 are both situated on the raised beaches which form a ring around the southern portion of "Palaeolake Beretouma". Both sites are semi-circular high density artifact scatters abutting the lake bed. We have little economic evidence associated with Beretouma pottery other than numerous fish remains (MacDonald 1994).
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