The archaeology of Early Islamic Trans-Saharan trading towns in West Africa : a comparative view and progressive methodology from the entrepot of Essouk-Tadmekka
This thesis reassesses the Early Islamic Trans-Saharan Trade primarily via archaeological data from the northern Sahel of West Africa. Specifically, it focuses on the trading entrepots which developed on the southern fringes of the Sahara during the Early Islamic period. This research was motivated by the recognition that historical sources, while offering useful insights into Trans-Saharan commerce, are unable to answer certain key questions due to inherent limitations in source material. Additionally, although previous archaeology at the entrepot sites has provided useful data, its analytical application has been limited. This is largely because most relevant archaeological work was done 30 or more years ago and was technologically or methodologically limited in aspects of artifactual analysis and dating. It was therefore decided that our understanding of entrepot archaeology would be best served by a new field project. Accordingly, excavation and surface collection was undertaken at the previously untested entrepot site of Essouk-Tadmekka in northern Mali. The results from Essouk provide a new perspective on the Early Islamic Trans-Saharan Trade process and make the following important contributions to
Nixon, Sam Robert
The archaeology of Early Islamic Trans-Saharan trading towns in West Africa : a comparative view and progressive methodology from the entrepot of Essouk-Tadmekka. This thesis reassesses the Early Islamic Trans-Saharan Trade primarily via archaeological data from the northern Sahel of West Africa. Specifically, it focuses on the trading entrepots which developed on the southern fringes of the Sahara during the Early Islamic period. This research was motivated by the recognition that historical sources, while offering useful insights into Trans-Saharan commerce, are unable to answer certain key questions due to inherent limitations in source material. Additionally, although previous archaeology at the entrepot sites has provided useful data, its analytical application has been limited. This is largely because most relevant archaeological work was done 30 or more years ago and was technologically or methodologically limited in aspects of artifactual analysis and dating. It was therefore decided that our understanding of entrepot archaeology would be best served by a new field project. Accordingly, excavation and surface collection was undertaken at the previously untested entrepot site of Essouk-Tadmekka in northern Mali. The results from Essouk provide a new perspective on the Early Islamic Trans-Saharan Trade process and make the following important contributions to
archaeology early_islamic trans saharan trading town west_africa comparative view progressive reassesses early_islamic trans saharan trade primarily via archaeological_data northern west_africa specifically_focus trade develop southern fringe sahara early_islamic period motivate recognition historical_source offer useful insight trans saharan commerce unable answer certain_key question due inherent limitation source_material additionally although previous archaeology sit provide_useful data analytical application limit largely relevant_archaeological work technologically methodologically limited aspect analysis dating therefore decide archaeology would best serve new field project accordingly excavation surface_collection undertake previously site northern mali provide_new perspective early_islamic trans saharan trade process make follow important_contribution