Fig 2. An Archaeologist on site
Main Topic:
ARCHAEOLOGY AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
Sub Topic 1:
Definition of Archaeology
Sub Topic 2:
Advantages/Merits of Archaeology
Sub Topic 3:
Disadvantages/Demerits of Archaeology
Objectives
(By the end of the Lesson students will be able to):
1.
explain
Archaeology as a source of African history
2.
discuss
the advantages/merits of Archaeology as a source of African history
3.
discuss
the disadvantages/demerits of Archaeology as a source of African history
Definition of Archaeology
Archaeology is the study
of a people’s culture of years past through excavation and examination of
material remains that are found. It is the understanding of human actions in
the past through a study of what they did rather than what they said of themselves.
Again, archaeology provides information about how societies adapted their ways
of life to suit their natural environment or how they modified their
environment to suit their way of life. Archaeological information is obtained
through the excavation or digging of specially chosen sites. In Europe,
archaeology has been a useful source of historical evidence since the 19th
century AD whereas in Africa, it has been helpful in the reconstruction of the
past since the second half of the 20th century.
The
archaeologist uses radio-carbon dating (carbon-14 dating) to determine the age
of artefacts. The use of this technique to examine running of houses tools and
weapons etc. has contributed immensely towards the reconstruction of African
history. Among the evidences are the famous Ife works of art in bronze and
pottery, which came to the notice of the world through archeological
excavations in 1910. Secondly, excavated sites at Igbo Ukwu in the south of
Enugu-Nigeria has shown that a highly advanced society existed in that part of
Nigeria in the 10th century AD. Thirdly, in the Brong-Ahafo region of modern
Ghana, excavation conducted at Begho provided evidence of copper and iron
industries.
Benefits/Importance/Advantages/Merits
of Archaeology
1. Archaeology
has proved the existence of Civilization in Africa long before the coming of
the Europeans.
Archaeological information shows that
African societies attained high levels of civilization and development in pre
European time. Example is the site excavated at Igbo Ukwu and Ife in Nigeria
which have revealed highly advanced societies where bronze and pottery
technology were practiced.
2. Trade
Contacts
Archeology helps to reveal the kind of
trade contacts that existed among people in the past. A good example is that of
the excavations carried out at Begho in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana, which
showed that long before the arrival of the Europeans, Africans were in contact
with China, Indonesia, Arabia and Phoenicia, since porcelain, coins, pipes and
bottles from these areas were found.
3.
Archaeology reveals African Culture
Through the studies of archaeology we get
an idea about the political organization of people, their religious/traditional
beliefs and economic activities etc. These come to light when archaeologists
excavate materials which experts examine and relate them. For instance, if a
chief’s linguist staff is found after excavations one may relate it to
religious/traditional belief or authority.
4. Ancient
Tools
Archeology also provides information about
the way different people have adapted to their environment e.g. by revealing
the tools they made for various purposes.
- Make
Other Sources Clear
Archeologists
help to confirm what can be known from other sources e.g. Oral Tradition
6. Archaeology
is the main sources of Pre-History of Africa
Archaeology has helped historians to write
history of pre-historic times. Since writing began late in most parts of the
continent, archeology has become the main source of information for the
reconstruction of African history of the distant past.
7. Archaeology
has helped us to know how Ancient people lived
Archeologists have revealed in their
studies what our ancestors did and so help to provide useful evidence for
writing about. Through archeology, the material culture of people in the past
becomes known. It is only through excavations that we go to know the kind of
building people built and the occupation they engaged in. For example, the
ruins in Zimbabwe, Kumbi-Saleh (empire of Ghana) and the pyramids in Egypt.
- Archaeology
has showed us the Origin of Humanity
Archeological studies have shown that
human beings originated from Africa. From this source, it has been proved that
Africa was the first home of man (Homo sapiens). This has been proved by the
fossils discovered by Dr. and Mrs. Leakey at Olduvai Gorge in the Northern
Tanzania.
9.
Dates of Events
Archeological studies help us to date
event e.g. the use of carbon-14 dating or radio carbon dating.
10.
Reliable Source
It has been a reliable source of history
since artifacts could be seen and felt.
Demerits/Disadvantages/Limitations of
Archaeology
1. Archaeology
may be guess work
In archaeology, one is bound to use much
guess work in the reconstruction of the past, thus leading to inaccurate
information. Also, the use of radio-carbon dating always approximate dates.
Artifacts found are anonymous and lack the sequence of daily life. Makers and
users of such artifacts are usually not known. This makes the archeologist do
guesswork.
2. Archaeology
is very Expensive
The use of archaeology as a source of
writing African history is expensive. It is expensive considering high cost of
labour excavating machines, finding the selected site, getting permit,
laboratory expenses, and special tools among others. The use of the radio
carbon dating (carbon 14) in determining the age of an archaeological find is
very complex and expensive.
- Nature
of the Climate/Climate Condition
The nature of the tropical climate in
Africa makes it difficult for archeological findings (material remains) to be
preserved in the soil. The tropical rainforest has high temperature and
rainfall which promotes decay of fossil remains as well as chemical weathering.
These conditions facilitate fossil decay and weathering of rocks leaving little
or no traces of rock paintings or carvings which are very useful sources of
information to historians in their attempt to reconstruct the African past.
4. View
not comprehensive
Archaeological finding is unable to
provide a comprehensive view and analysis of the past because it does not tell
about the ideological and sociological aspects of life. All these factors limit
the scope of information available to the historian.
- Archaeology
may contain spotty information
The information derived from archeology is
often spotty because the information is usually got depending on materials
found.
- Archaeological
findings may be difficult to interpret
Archeology unfortunately needs knowledge of many disciplines to interpret information. For example, chemistry, botany, geology, art, history etc. That is, it is not easy to get one person with knowledge on such disciplines thus making interpretation a difficult task.
7.
Archaeology depends on other sources
Archeology rely on information given by
oral tradition and written sources. The archeologists in most cases have to
receive information about a site or read from a book about a site before
excavations can take place. Without receiving information from the local people
about a site of ruins, writing African history becomes difficult since the
archeologist may be handicapped.
Past
Questions
1.
Highlight the importance of archaeology as
a source of African history. (WASSCE NOV/DEC 2012)
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