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Ceramic Seriation, Sites Chronology, and Old Oyo Factor in Northcentral Yorubaland, Nigeria

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Abstract

This study is an attempt to provide a chronological seriation of pottery from Igbomina in northcentral Yorubaland. The ceramic sequence is developed using multivariate statistical analysis. From the K-means cluster analysis, ceramic collections that are roughly contemporaneous were grouped together; next the collections were seriated with multidimensional scaling to reveal whether they form a pattern that may be chronologically significant. Evaluation of the results of the pottery analysis from the Igbomina sites was based on the chronological division of Old Oyo pottery as well as on radiocarbon dating of associated material from excavated sites in the region. Pottery types from Old Oyo became known in Igbomina probably as early as the thirteenth century AD, and continued to occur in some areas until the late eighteenth century. The presence of Oyo pottery in Igbomina has important implications for the understanding of Oyo's relations with the northern Yoruba group and the frontier position of Igbomina during the Old Oyo Empire.

Cette étude cherche à fournir une sériation chronologique de la céramique provenant de Igbomina situé dans la partie centrale du nord de Yorubaland. La séquene de céramique a été élaborée en utilisant une analyse statistique multidimensionnelle. Les collections de céramique plus ou moins contemporaines ont été groupées en se servant de la moyenne du facteur K de la classification ascendante hiérarchique, elles ont ensuite été ordonnées au moyen d'une analyse des proximités pour voir si elles formaient un schéma chronologique significatif. L'évaluation des résultats de l'analyse céramique des sites Iglomina est fondée sur les divisions chronologiques de la céramique Oyo ancienne ainsi que sur des dates radiocarbones obtenues sur du matériel en association provenant de sites fouillés dans la région. Les types de céramique de l'Oyo ancien sont probablement arrivés à Igbomina dès le 13ème siècle et ont continué à apparaître dans certains endroits jusqu'à la fin du 18ème siècle. La présence de la céramique Oyo à Igbomina comporte des implications importantes pour nos connaissances sur les relations des Oyo avec les groupes Yoruba du nord et sur la position de la frontière de Igbomina pendant l'empire Oyo ancien.

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Usman, A.A. Ceramic Seriation, Sites Chronology, and Old Oyo Factor in Northcentral Yorubaland, Nigeria. African Archaeological Review 20, 149–169 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025673401280

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