An archaeometallurgical investigation of iron smelting traditions in Southern Rwanda
From the 1950âs to the 1980âs, research in Rwanda highlighted the countryâs significant archaeological potential, including some of the earliest evidence for iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. However, years of civil war culminated in the 1994 genocide and the country was left devastated. Further archaeological research to develop the potential already indicated was inappropriate. In 2006 this research project, to explore Rwandaâs past iron smelting traditions, was accepted by the Institute of National Museums in Rwanda. Six months of fieldwork followed, including survey and the excavation of six newly located iron production sites. Archaeometallurgical samples collected in the field have been analysed at the Institute of Archaeology using a variety of different analytical techniques, and the results generated have been interpreted. Thus, aspects of the production techniques represented at each of the smelting locations investigated during this research have been illuminated. This first systematic exploration of diachronic change within iron smelting traditions in Southern Rwanda has revealed two and a half millennia of dynamic technologies embedded within wider society. A chronological framework
Humphris, J. E.
An archaeometallurgical investigation of iron smelting traditions in Southern Rwanda. From the 1950âs to the 1980âs, research in Rwanda highlighted the countryâs significant archaeological potential, including some of the earliest evidence for iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. However, years of civil war culminated in the 1994 genocide and the country was left devastated. Further archaeological research to develop the potential already indicated was inappropriate. In 2006 this research project, to explore Rwandaâs past iron smelting traditions, was accepted by the Institute of National Museums in Rwanda. Six months of fieldwork followed, including survey and the excavation of six newly located iron production sites. Archaeometallurgical samples collected in the field have been analysed at the Institute of Archaeology using a variety of different analytical techniques, and the results generated have been interpreted. Thus, aspects of the production techniques represented at each of the smelting locations investigated during this research have been illuminated. This first systematic exploration of diachronic change within iron smelting traditions in Southern Rwanda has revealed two and a half millennia of dynamic technologies embedded within wider society. A chronological framework
archaeometallurgical investigation iron_smelt tradition southern highlight country significant archaeological potential include early_evidence iron_production sub_saharan africa however year civil_war culminate genocide country leave devastate archaeological develop potential already indicate inappropriate project explore past iron smelting tradition accept institute national museums fieldwork follow include survey_excavation newly locate iron_production site archaeometallurgical sample_collect field analyse institute archaeology use variety_different analytical_technique generate interpret thus aspect production_technique represent smelt location investigate first systematic exploration diachronic_change within iron_smelt tradition southern reveal millennia dynamic technology embed_within wider_society chronological_framework