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Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016, pp. 257–289 257
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture –1500 BC to the Beginning of the Common Era
Gabriele Franke
Résumé
Dans le centre du Nigeria, la culture de Nok ainsi que les célèbres sculptures en terre cuite qui lui sont associées font l’objet depuis 2005 d’un projet de recherche conjoint entre la Goethe-Universität de Francfort et la Commission pour les Musées et Monuments du Nigeria. Une question de recherche essentielle concerne les aspects chronologiques de cette culture, que des travaux antérieurs ont permis de rattacher à une période comprise entre le milieu du premier millénaire BC et les premiers siècles de notre ère. Cet article présente et commente les dates radiocarbones et par thermoluminescence obtenues dans le cadre du projet Nok de l’Université de Francfort. Une chronologie pour la culture de Nok est proposée à partir d’une approche combinant les dates absolues avec les résultats d’une étude détaillée de la céramique. Une phase précoce de la culture de Nok débute vers le milieu du deuxième millénaire BC. Sa phase principale, au cours de laquelle apparaissent les sculptures en terre cuite ainsi que la métallurgie du fer, commence durant le neuvième siècle BC et s’achève au quatrième siècle BC. Une phase plus tardive, marquée par une nette diminution des témoignages archéologiques, s’étend jusqu’aux derniers siècles avant notre ère. La céramique ainsi que les sculptures en terre cuite typiques de la culture Nok disparaissent complètement sur les sites datés à partir des premiers siècles de notre ère. La fin de la culture de Nok peut ainsi être située aux alentours du tournant de notre ère.
Abstract
The Central Nigerian Nok Culture and its well-known terra-cotta figurines have been the focus of a joint research project between the Goethe University Frankfurt and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria since 2005. One major research question concerns chronological aspects of the Nok Culture, for which a period from around the middle of the first millennium BC to the first centuries AD had been suggested by previous investigations. This paper presents and discusses the radiocarbon and luminescence dates ob-tained by the Frankfurt Nok project. Combining the absolute dates with the results of a comprehensive pottery analysis, a chronology for the Nok Culture has been developed. An early phase of the Nok Culture’s development begins around the middle of the second millennium BC. Its main phase, in which terracotta figurines and iron production appear, starts in the 9th century BC and ends in the 4th century BC. A later phase with vanishing evidence extends into the last centuries BC. On sites dating from the first centuries AD onwards no more Nok terracotta or pottery are found; the end of the Nok Culture is thus set around the turn of the Common Era.
Keywords: Nok Culture, Nigeria, chronology, radiocarbon dating, pottery, Iron Age
DOI 10.3213/2191-5784-10297 © Africa Magna Verlag, Frankfurt a. M.Published online 13 Dec 2016
Gabriele Franke 8 [email protected] * Institute for Archaeological Sciences, African Archaeology & Archaeobotany, Goethe University, Norbert-Wollheim-Platz 1, 60629 Frankfurt a. M., Germany
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Introduction
It was British archaeologist Bernard Fagg, working for the British colonial administration, who first identified the Nok Culture in 1944 when he discovered similarities between a newly found terracotta head from Jemaa and one found near the village of Nok in 1928. Both were recovered in tin mines west of the Jos Plateau in Central Nigeria. Many more Nok terracotta parts were found subsequently in the alluvial though sealed deposits of these tin mines, especially near Nok village (Fagg 1945). Establishing an age for the figurines proved difficult. Today’s absolute dating methods such as radiocarbon and luminescence were not yet devised for archaeologi-cal age determinations. The first indication came from the geological layers, in which the figurines and other cultural material were found. British geologist G. Bond described a geological sequence which included the cultural horizon of the Nok terracotta figurines (Bond 1956: 198, 200). Assuming that the cutting of the river channels, in which the finds were deposited, would have needed a period of heavier rainfall, he tentatively cor-related it with the Nakuran Wet Phase, a period of more intense rainfall in the first millennium BC1, linked in East Africa to the Later Stone Age. Further assuming that the deposition of the figurines would have occurred after the rainfall maximum, the age of the Nok Culture was set into the second half of the first millennium BC (Fagg 1956: 221) — at that time a surprisingly old age for the elaborate terracotta figurines, placing them among the oldest figural sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa.
More than 60 years have passed since this first age estimate. The excavations by B. Fagg, A. Fagg, R. Soper, and J. Jemkur (Fagg 1968, 1990; Fagg A. 1972, 2014; Jemkur 1992, 2014) in the 1960s and 1970s added absolute dates to this tentative placement into the first millennium BC, which put the duration of the Nok Culture between 500 BC and 200 AD (Fagg 1962: 445). This age estimate remained largely unchanged until 2005, even if a beginning of the Nok Culture in the early first millennium BC was suggested some years earlier (Boullier et al. 2002/2003).
After several decades, in which Nok sites were loot-ed and destroyed on a large scale, archaeologists from Goethe University Frankfurt in 2005 restarted scientific investigations (Breunig & Rupp 2010). Between 2005 and 2008 the archaeological potential of Nok Culture
1 “BC/AD” reflects calendar years, for both luminescence and cali-brated radiocarbon dates. It should, however, be kept in mind that in the older literature radiocarbon dates were cited uncalibrated, simply converted into calendar years using 1950 as reference year. In this paper, OxCal 4.2, IntCal13 (Bronk Ramsey 2009; Reimer et al. 2013) is used for calibration. If not mentioned otherwise, the time range is shown with 2-sigma probability (95.4 %).
sites was tested by surveys and excavations; absolute dates were obtained, both by luminescence measure-ments on Nok figurines and by radiocarbon measure-ments on organic material. Most results fall into the first millennium BC, confirming Fagg’s age estimates. In 2009, these investigations resulted in a long-term research project (Frankfurt Nok project), funded by the German Research Foundation (Breunig 2009) and currently being in its third project phase (2015–2017). The project’s key study area encompasses about 300 km2 (15 x 20 km) northeast of the Nigerian capital of Abuja; a research station is located near the village of Janjala (Kaduna State) (Fig. 1). One of the major research topics has been the establishment of a chronology of the Nok Culture (Breunig 2009: 345–349). On the one hand, absolute dates have been collected from a large number of Nok sites; the dates provide an absolute time frame for the Nok Culture period and add substantially to the number of dates that were available before then. On the other hand, pottery analysis has resulted in the defini-tion of several temporal pottery groups. Combining the absolute dates and the results of the pottery analysis, a chronology of the Nok Culture has been developed, spanning more than a millennium (Franke 2014, 2015; Franke & Breunig 2014).
This article presents and discusses the absolute dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (Table 1, Table 2a & 2b) and provides a list of the 69 sites dated, which includes information on excavations, finds and chronological classification (Table 3). Since the pottery plays an important role in defining chronological phases, a summary of the results of the pottery analysis is given. Finally, a chronology of the Nok Culture with three absolute-chronological phases is established. Before turning to the data of the Frankfurt Nok project, the absolute dates obtained by past research are reviewed.
Absolute dates obtained in the 20th century
Early radiocarbon dates (1950s to 1970s)
Shortly after geological evidence placed the age of the Nok Culture into the second half of the first millen-nium BC, the radiocarbon method became available for archaeologists. In 1951, B. Fagg submitted wood and charcoal samples from the geological layers containing Nok material as well as from the clay layer above the archaeological horizon to the Geochronometric Labora-tory at Yale University, New Haven, USA. It took six years until the first results were published (Barendsen et al. 1957: 916–918), mainly due to complications in the laboratories through contaminations caused by the long-range effects from fall-out after nuclear tests (Fagg 1959: 291).
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The results confirmed the initial age estimate. The undisturbed layer of dark grey clay overlying the main figurine horizon at the Main Paddock tin mine at Nok was dated to about 200 AD (Y-474), providing a termi-nus ante quem for the Nok material found below (see Table 4 for a list of published radiocarbon dates). The layer in which the figurines and the associated material were found yielded a date of 900 BC (Y-142-4; Fagg 1962: 445). Though this date was considered to be the most probable (Barendsen et al. 1957: 916), Fagg as-sumed it to represent deposits formed early in the Na-kuran Wet Phase and stated that “it is not unreasonable to date the figurine culture to the period between about 500 B.C. and A.D. 200, bearing in mind the probability that the introduction of iron working is unlikely to have reached the area before 500 B.C.” (Fagg 1962: 445).
This age estimate remained valid through the exca-vations at the non-alluvial sites of Taruga (Fagg 1968, 1969), Samun Dukiya (Fagg A. 1972), and Katsina Ala (Fagg A. 2014) in the 1960s. For each site, charcoal samples were submitted for radiocarbon measurement. Taruga yielded several consistent ages, ranging from
2541±104 bp to 2042±126 bp (Burleigh et al. 1977: 154–155; Calvocoressi & David 1979: 10; Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 13). In calibrated calendar years, they range between 894–402 BC and 377 BC–219 AD (Tab. 4). Only one date deviates, falling into the latter half of the second millennium AD (BM 939). At Samun Dukiya, one radiocarbon sample attributed to the Nok occupation horizon yielded a calibrated age of 399 BC-17 AD (I-4913; Fagg A. 1972: 77). The other 14C result from Samun Dukiya fell into the second millennium BC and was considered to derive from an earlier, pre-Nok settlement episode (I-4914; Fagg A. 1972: 77). The radiocarbon sample from Katsina Ala also yielded a young date, between the 15th and 17th century AD (BM 535; Burleigh et al. 1977: 155).
Figure 2 shows the single calibration plots and the summed probability density of the radiocarbon dates from Nok, Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala. The majority of dates fall into the first millen-nium BC; the summed density is highest between the 8th and 1st century BC. However, the large standard errors and the calibration curve plateau between the 8th
Figure 1. Map showing all sites for which absolute dates were obtained (n=69), separated into Nok sites (red), pre-Nok sites (yellow) and post-Nok sites (blue). Most sites are located in the key study area (white box) around the project’s research station in Janjala village. Sites further away are shown in the locator map (top left).
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and 4th century BC do not allow precise age estimates2. In the 95.4% probability range, three dates from Taruga range between the 9th and 5th century BC, making it equally probable that the Nok Culture began in the 9th century BC or in the 5th century BC.
Thermoluminescence dates (1970s)
The first Nok terracotta dated by the thermolumines-cence method (TL) was the Jemaa head, found in 1944. In the absence of a surrounding soil sample the sedi-ment found inside the head was used as external dose, resulting in an age of 2480±220 years. Without taking an external dose into account, the result is slightly older (2570±230 years); yet both dates range around the middle of the first millennium BC and agree with the radiocarbon dates (Fagg & Fleming 1970: 54–55).
In 1976, it became necessary to date ceramic mate-rial directly when A. Fagg and J. Jemkur noticed possible mixtures of Nok pottery material with younger material (Calvocoressi & David 1979: 10–11; Jemkur 1986: 166). Potsherds and terracotta fragments were submitted for TL dating to the Oxford Research Laboratory for Archaeol-ogy. The first two results published came from the site of Chado and ranged between the 4th and 7th century AD (Jemkur 1978: 34–35). Further results were published by Calvocoressi & David (1979: 29) and Jemkur (1986, 1992: 68–70). Table 5 lists all published TL dates, adjusted by some recent corrections by A. Fagg3. More than half of the TL results date into the first millennium BC (when taking the statistical error into account, the maximum age range is between 765 BC and AD 175) and correspond to the radiocarbon ages. While the terracotta sample from Katsina Ala is in line with these dates, the pottery sample is much younger (OX TL 187.r1; Flem-ing 1979: 139) and agrees with the 14C result (BM 535; Burleigh et al. 1977: 155); this is a significant indica-tion of a mixture of Nok material with a later occupation
2 The calibration curve plateau between the 8th and 4th century BC prevents the translation of radiocarbon years into precise calendar year estimates. New high-precision laboratory methods and inde-pendent quality controls have reduced the statistical error to 15–40 years (Kromer 2007: 5) while refinements in the calibration curve (IntCal 13, Reimer et al. 2013) have led to greater accuracy in cali-brated calendar years. The ranges narrow on both ends of the plateau, producing calibrated dates between the 8th and mid-6th century BC on one end and the mid-6th and 4th century BC on the other. These developments reduce the number of radiocarbon dates that cannot be converted to a more precise time frame than ca 800–400 BC, but the problem remains for radiocarbon dates of ca 2450 bp.
3 The amendments made by A. Fagg (pers. comm. 13.6.2013) are: OX TL 187.m was corrected to Jemaa (from Maitumbi); the standard errors on OX TL 187.a (to 180) and 187.h (to 190) were changed; and the date on the female figure sitting on a pot from Chado was corrected to AD 115±160.
at this site. The TL dates for Ankiring are also younger, falling into the first half of the first millennium AD. The samples, however, were not taken from the figurines but from some associated material; in addition, the figurine style seems unusual and not necessarily connected with the Nok Culture (Fagg 1990: 139; Jemkur 1992: 69). Another set of even younger dates in the first millennium AD comes from Chado (both from potsherds and figurine fragments); at least some of the figurines, however, feature the typical Nok terracotta style (Fagg 1990: 124, 129). Since Chado is the only known site with Nok figurines that date into the Common Era, one must consider the possibility that the TL measurements do not reflect the time of production. There are several factors that can influence the TL signal, such as inadequate burial in the ground (Aitken 1989: 156), later exposure to heat (e.g. from bushfires) or a lack of soil samples that can be used as external dose (Fleming 1976: 120–127). Considering that the exact find context and the ceramic objects sampled are not known, the TL dates from Ankiring and Chado are not reliable enough to suggest an extension of the Nok tradition well into the first millennium AD (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 16, 18; Franke 2015: 35–36).
Further radiocarbon dates
Between the 1970s and 2005, when the first investiga-tions by the Frankfurt Nok Project started, no further dates were obtained for the Nok Culture from a scien-tifically excavated archaeological context. Of course, there are plenty of TL dates in circulation, based on Nok figurines in museums or private collections (e.g. Chesi & Merzeder 2006). However, all figurines lack a secure archaeological context; and since they may be partly or fully counterfeits (Breunig & Ameje 2006), these dates are not reliable. There are, however, some radiocarbon dates that appear to be realistic (Table 4). They were obtained by C. Boullier, who did a stylistic and chronological analysis on Nok terracotta figurines in museums and private collections in Europe (Boul-lier & Person 1999; Boullier 2001; Boullier et al. 2002/2003). She submitted charcoal pieces from the hollow interior of the Nok figurines for radiocarbon dating, assuming that the charcoal derived from wooden frameworks used during the construction of the figu-rines or from the sediment of the Nok sites they came from (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 18). All 17 results date into the first millennium BC; the maximum range lies between the 10th and 2nd century BC. Figure 3 shows the single calibration plots and the summed prob-ability density for Boullier’s radiocarbon dates, with the majority ranging between ca 900 and 400 BC, again mostly within the calibration curve plateau. It is known, though, that sediment from Nok sites is intentionally filled into Nok figurines, original or not, to give them authenticity. Then, the radiocarbon dates would confirm
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Figure 2. Single calibration plots and summed probability density of radiocarbon dates from Nok, Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala (n=17). Dates older than 4000 bp are not included.
Figure 3. Single calibration plots and summed probability density of radiocarbon dates obtained by C. Boullier (n=17).
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the age of the Nok sites the sediment came from but not the age of the figurines (Breunig 2009: 345–346). In the meantime, however, the Frankfurt project has excavated a large number of Nok terracotta parts that are very similar in stylistic details to the ones analysed by Boullier. By implication, this would mean that at least some parts and with them the charcoal are authentic and the radiocarbon dates can be considered realistic.
Summary
Most of the radiocarbon and TL dates confirm the initial estimate based on geological evidence that the Nok Culture dates to the latter half of first millennium BC. While Fagg put the beginning of the Nok Culture around 500 BC (Fagg 1962: 445), Boullier suggested an earlier beginning, which is based on three radiocarbon dates with calibrated age ranges between ca 900 and 800 BC (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 27). A beginning in the early first millennium BC would explain one of the first radiocarbon dates from Nok (Y-142-4), cali-brated to 1262–856 BC and originally thought to be too early (Fagg 1962: 445). Regarding the end of the Nok Culture, none of Boullier’s dates is younger than the 2nd century BC and there even is a sharp drop in dates in the 4th century BC, possibly indicating an earlier end than that suggested by Fagg (200 AD). In any case, at the end of the 20th century, the Nok Culture was safely positioned in the first millennium BC.
Absolute dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok Project since 2005
The placement of the Nok Culture into the first millen-nium BC was the ground from which the research of the Frankfurt Nok Project on chronological aspects started. A large number of absolute dates from scientifically ex-cavated Nok sites in combination with a pottery analysis form the basis for developing a chronology which not only defines an absolute time frame but also distinguishes several phases during the duration of the Nok Culture and separates Nok pottery from younger pottery material in the research area (Franke 2014; Franke & Breunig 2014).
The pottery analysis has been ongoing since 2009, being the first systematic investigation into Nok pottery. Almost no prior information was available to draw on — only a few general descriptions of the pottery found at Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala have been published (Fagg 1969: 48; Fagg A. 1972: 77; Jemkur 1992: 49). A total of 15,000 diagnostic (i.e., decorated and rim sherds) pottery fragments from 48 sites (dated and containing pottery material) have been analysed so far, resulting in the definition of several pottery groups described below (Franke 2015).
Overall, 174 radiocarbon and 27 luminescence dates (Table 1, 2a & 2b) were collected between 2005 and 2014 from 69 sites that were tested or excavated (see Table 3 for details on these sites). 65 of the sites are radiocarbon dated; TL dates are available for 19 sites, of which only four sites have no additional radiocarbon dates due to a lack of datable organic material. The majority of the 65 radiocarbon dated sites were tested with small excavation units of not more than 3 x 3 m; the intention was to recover archaeobotanical material for dating and potsherds for chronological analysis. For such sites, usually not more than one or two dates were obtained. For sites at which larger excavations took place, more samples were dated (from different units, depths, features, and contexts). The number of dates by sites, therefore, varies considerably (up to 37 samples for the project’s largest excavation at the Pangwari site, 2012/34).
Samples and laboratories
Radiocarbon measurementsFrom the start of the Frankfurt investigations, archaeo-botanical samples have been taken during all excava-tions. The sediment samples usually comprise 10–20 litres, mainly from pit features or charcoal concentra-tions, and undergo the usual flotation process. The samples are then screened and analysed in the Archaeo-botanical Laboratory of the Goethe University Frankfurt (Kahlheber et al. 2009). For dating purposes, charred annual plant material has been preferred over charcoal, most often in the form of pearl millet (Pennisetum glau-cum) or Canarium schweinfurthii. Approximately 75% of all radiocarbon samples were annual plant remains (55% pearl millet, 20% other plant material), only 25% were charcoal samples.
Five laboratories have been involved in radiocar-bon dating since 2005: Beta Analytic, Miami, USA (Beta); AMS laboratory, Friedrich-Alexander Uni-versität Erlangen/Nürnberg, Germany (Erl); Leibniz Laboratory, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Ger-many (KIA); Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry Mannheim, Germany (MAMS)4; and P.J. Van de Graaff Laboratory, Utrecht University, Netherlands (UtC). All laboratories use the accelerator mass spectrometry method (AMS) and follow the recommended conven-
4 The Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry Mannheim was opened in 2010, replacing the radiocarbon facility at the Heidel-berg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Measurements prior to 2010 were prepared in Heidelberg and measured in Zurich, Switzerland, where their AMS machine was located. This machine (MICADAS) was transferred to Mannheim in 2010. All samples, thus, were measured in the same machine and carry a MAMS laboratory code.
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tions for CRA (conventional radiocarbon age) (see Wood 2015 for a recent summary on the publishing of radiocarbon results). The conventional radiocarbon ages (see Table 1, 14C age in years bp) are corrected for isotopic fractionation, calculated by using the δ13C measured together with 14C by AMS. This δ13C value is thus not directly comparable to the δ13C value measured in an IRMS (Isotope Ration Mass Spectrometer) and should not be used for further interpretation because it can be distorted by the graphitisation procedure and by effects during AMS measurement5. Quoted errors repre-sent a 1-sigma standard deviation (68.2% probability). Depending on the laboratory, conventional radiocarbon age and sigma may be rounded to the nearest 10 years.
Luminescence measurementsLuminescence dates, by both optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL), have been obtained in cases where no organic material was available for radiocarbon dating or where a direct dating of the object in question (e.g. iron-smelting furnaces) was required. Ceramic objects dated include terracotta figurine fragments, potsherds, and furnace wall or tuyère fragments. In most cases, soil from the excavation or from inside the terracotta figurines was used to determine the external dose rate.
The Frankfurt Nok project has cooperated with two laboratories. In 2007, ten figurine samples were measured at the Rathgen Laboratory in Berlin, Germany. OSL measurements were conducted on quartz grains (125–180 µm) from the archaeological samples. OSL was used rather than TL because of better reliability and a slightly smaller dating error (between 5–10% compared to 7–12% in TL; pers. comm. C. Goedicke 20.5.2007). Since 2012, a total of 17 terracotta, pottery, and furnace samples have been submitted to the Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry (MAL). Both archaeological and soil samples were analysed by Low Level Neutron Activa-tion Analysis (NAA) for doserate determination. The paleodoses, or absorbed doses, of the archaeological samples were obtained by additive (multiple aliquot) TL measurements on both, quartz minerals (100–200 µm) and fine-grain particles (4–11 µm) (pers. comm. S. Lindauer 11.3.2013; see Table 2b for dose information). The MAL ages given in Table 2a are calculated as the error-weighted averages of all measurements performed on one sample; quoted errors represent a 1-sigma stan-dard deviation (68.2% probability). Depending on the laboratory, measured age and sigma may be rounded to the nearest 50 years, considering the error due to the assumed moisture content of the soil.
5 This does not apply for measurements made by Beta Analytic. Here, the reported δ13C values are for the material itself, measured in an IRMS on the pretreated sample material.
Results and discussion of absolute dates
Radiocarbon datesFifteen dates were omitted from further consideration — six are affected by the bomb 14C effect, five are younger than 199 bp, and four dates are older than the seventh millennium BC. Figure 4 shows the calibrated age ranges for each of the reliable 159 radiocarbon results in chronological order from oldest to youngest date (us-ing OxCal 4.2, IntCal13, 95.4% probability). The dates range between ca 1600 BC and 1600 AD, spanning a time period of more than 3000 years.
The earliest evidence of settlement and farming goes back to around the middle of the second millen-nium BC. 20 dates from nine sites fall into the time period between 1600 and 1000 BC, 18 of which are on annual plant remains. They indicate that people growing pearl millet were living in the key study area and to the north (see Ankoro, 2011/38 in Fig. 1). Despite intensive surveying, only one site was discovered in the key study area that — consisting of a concentration of quartz artefacts as evidence for stone working — is suggested to be older than the second millennium BC (Tudun Kaura, 2011/4). Unfortunately, the only organic material recovered gave a modern radiocarbon date.
Most of these early sites contain Nok terracotta fragments; they are, however, not found in the ex-cavated material but on the surface, left over from illegal digging activities and in no secure context with the excavated and dated material such as pottery and stone artefacts. At such sites, other radiocarbon dates that fall into the first millennium BC indicate later Nok occupation episodes, to which the figurine parts most likely belong. Even younger radiocarbon dates, rang-ing between the middle of the first and middle of the second millennium AD, are available for some sites; they indicate that Nok Culture sites continued to be used in “post-Nok” times6.
The number of sites found (and excavated) in-creases in the early first millennium BC; older sites continue to be occupied. From the 10th and 9th century BC onwards, terracotta figurines are found in all excava-tions, now securely associated with the other excavated
6 To distinguish Nok Culture sites from younger sites with different ceramic inventories and without Nok terracotta figurines, the term “post-Nok” has been coined. Such sites cannot be attributed to known traditions due to a lack of an established archaeological sequence for the time and region under consideration. Acknowl-edging the shortcomings of the term “post-Nok” with its focus on the Nok Culture as the defining complex in the archaeology of the region, it will be used as working term for the sake of delimiting Nok Culture sites from subsequent sites.
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Figure 4 (continued on next pages). Single calibration plots of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (n=159). Each date is shown with its laboratory number and a site abbreviation.
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Figure 4 (end). Single calibration plots of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (n=159). Each date is shown with its laboratory number and a site abbreviation.
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material and the radiocarbon dates. This time obviously marks the beginning of the Nok Culture terracotta tradi-tion. 15 dates (all on pearl millet) feature very precise calendar year ranges between ca 830 and 760 BC, before the beginning of the calibration curve plateau. The earliest terracotta deposits excavated date to this period and are proof that the terracotta tradition was well established in the late 9th century BC at the latest.
The majority of radiocarbon dates lie in the calibra-tion curve plateau between about 800 BC and 400 BC, in which no precise age estimates are possible. The num-ber of sites increases substantially; all sites contain Nok terracotta figurines. It is in sites dating to this period that evidence of iron working in form of iron-smelting furnaces, slag, and very few iron objects appears for the first time. While at least one of the furnaces (at Intini, 2010/03) is directly luminescence dated to the Nok period, the association of the iron objects is not beyond doubt. They are usually found in the excavations but not in secure context with Nok material. As mentioned above, younger occupation episodes are present on Nok sites and the iron objects could be associated with them as well.
After 400 BC, the number of radiocarbon dates and sites containing Nok terracotta figurines decreases substantially. This is not an artefact of sampling; the key study area is well surveyed and sites would have been recorded if existing. Dates of the first and second millennium AD belong either to post-Nok sites that no longer contain Nok material or to younger occupation horizons at Nok sites, which can be distinguished by pottery style.
The large amount of calibrated radiocarbon dates provides a continuous temporal sequence between the middle of the second millennium BC and the second millennium AD, with a significant increase in the num-ber of dates and sites in the 9th century BC and a drop in the 4th century BC. Absolute dates by themselves, however, do not link sites to the Nok Culture. So far, the presence of Nok-style terracotta figurines has made a site a Nok Culture site. Taking this criterion as the defining attribute, only sites in the first millennium BC with securely associated terracotta finds can be safely attributed to the Nok Culture — with the period between the 9th and the 4th centuries BC constituting the main phase. Thus, the Frankfurt project’s radiocarbon dates confirm the older dates presented above: the Nok terra-cotta figures belong to the first millennium BC. Whether the earlier and later sites recorded, which do not contain terracotta parts, also belong to the Nok Culture cannot be answered by absolute dates alone. Other evidence, especially the pottery analysis, is discussed below.
Luminescence datesTerracotta figurinesEleven fragments of terracotta figurines and one frag-ment of an anthropomorphic vessel from nine sites were submitted for luminescence dating. The ten samples dated by OSL in 2007 range in age between 1064–720 BC (Akura, 5A72) and 445–157 BC (Polwaya, 3POL). The two samples dated by TL in 2013 (Fig. 5.1–2) are slightly younger, between the 4th century BC and the 2nd century AD. The luminescence dates confirm the first millennium BC as the production period of Nok terracotta figurines. For five sites, luminescence dates were obtained in addition to radiocarbon dates; in some cases they differ significantly (Table 6). Especially the samples from Ankoro demonstrate the presence of different occupation episodes at some sites during the Nok period as mentioned above.
PotteryOnly three potsherds were submitted for TL dating (Fig. 5.3–5). Their style was, based on the pottery clas-sification, not in line with the sites’ radiocarbon dates but seemed to indicate other occupation episodes. The TL date for the sherd from Ido (with a carved roulette pattern) confirmed the pottery classification into the early second millennium AD and thus a later occupation episode at the site. The other two results (Pabeki, Tudun Dosa) are difficult to interpret: The Pabeki sherd gave a date in the late first millennium AD, corresponding to evidence of a later occupation at this Nok site, but not clearly matching the pottery classification. The sherd from Tudun Dosa with a carved roulette pattern should — similar to other inventories — date into the first millennium AD. The very large measurement error, however, does not allow a clear allocation.
Furnace fragmentsEspecially with regard to the discussion on the begin-ning of iron production in the Nok Culture and in sub-Saharan Africa in general (see Eggert 2014 for a recent summary), it has been important to date the iron-working remains directly rather than through associated plant material (see Junius 2016 for information on Nok metallurgy). For seven excavated sites containing often several iron-smelting furnaces, TL dates were obtained on samples of furnace walls or tuyères. For all sites, radiocarbon dates were obtained as well (Table 7). Most radiocarbon samples were from charcoal associ-ated with the excavated furnaces and date to the Nok period between ca 800 and 400 BC. The earliest 14C dates range between ca 800 and 550 BC, suggesting that iron working began not later than the 6th and not earlier than the 8th century BC.
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Figure 5. Fired clay objects measured by thermoluminescence in 2013. 1) Terracotta figurine from Daji Gwana; 2) Anthropo-morph vessel from Taka Lafiya; 3) Carved roulette potsherd from Ido; 4) Carved roulette potsherd from Tudun Dosa; 5) Potsherd with horizontal application from Pabeki.
The luminescence dates, however, show a differ-ent picture: except for one date in the first millennium BC (Intini, 2010/03), all dates lie in the first or even early second millennium AD. Heating incidents such as bushfires that may have affected the furnace sites after the end of the Nok Culture cannot explain these dates adequately. Except for the much younger date from the furnace at Sabon Janruwa, all luminescence dates overlap consistently in the early centuries AD. Research on the Nok Culture’s iron production by
H. Junius (2016) has shown that furnace fragments contain vitrified quartz and feldspar grains. Vitrifica-tion occurs at temperatures exceeding 950–1000°C, temperatures reached in an iron-smelting furnace. A study on vitrified ramparts in Europe found that TL ages become successively younger with increasing fir-ing temperatures above 900°C (Kresten et al. 2003). This offers an explanation for the luminescence dates that are consistently younger than the corresponding
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radiocarbon dates7. The much younger date from Sabon Janruwa may be explained by a higher degree of vit-rification; the Nok Culture date from Intini by the fact that the sample was probably from a part of the furnace that was not affected by heat above 900°C.
In summary, the luminescence results fell short of the project’s expectations. It was hoped that lumi-nescence dates can help overcome the imprecise ra-diocarbon dates of the calibration curve plateau in the middle of the first millennium BC, but the large errors of up to 10% do not allow for accurate age estimates. And especially the TL measurements on the furnace fragments obviously do not reflect the time of build-ing or use. Only the dates on the terracotta fragments are reliable and confirm the first millennium BC as production period.
Classification of Nok Culture Pottery
Absolute dates provide a time span for the Nok Cul-ture if they can be linked to Nok terracotta figurines as the defining attribute of the Nok Culture. But as seen above, they cannot be related to or delimited from the Nok Culture when this find group is absent. Here, the pottery analysis provides further defining attributes. Not only can an absolute time period for the Nok Culture be established, it is also possible to define pottery groups that sub-divide the 400-year calibration curve plateau. The information presented here is a brief summary of the results of a dissertation project (Franke 2015) on Nok Culture pottery, which will be published elsewhere in more detail. In this paper, the focus is on the pottery groups’ sequence which can be used in establishing a chronology for the Nok Culture. The pottery groups are defined on elements of style and form and are based on the results of statistical analysis and a detailed visual examination of pottery inventories of 48 excavated sites. A total of seven Nok Culture groups as well as two groups of Common Era pottery have been defined (Fig. 6–8).
The oldest pottery group (Puntun Dutse) dates from the middle to the end of the second millennium BC. Puntun Dutse group pottery is quite distinctive with very fine comb-drawn lines (horizontal, wavy, spirals) often combined with rocker comb impressions. Also typical is cross-hatching (Fig. 6.1). While the comb-drawn lines disappear at the end of the second
7 Currently, this hypothesis is being testing at the Klaus-Tschira-Centre in Mannheim, Germany, by Susanne Lindauer. Fragments of different parts of a complete tuyère (with varying degrees of vitrification) found in a furnace at Baidesuru (2013/02) are dated by thermoluminescence to find out whether differences in the measured ages occur.
millennium BC, cross-hatching and comb/rocker comb impressions continue into the first millennium BC. This continuity in combination with continuity in site occu-pation and subsistence allows this pottery group to be linked to the Nok Culture, though terracotta figurines are absent in the excavation contexts (see above).
The first millennium BC encompasses the other six Nok pottery groups, of which the Ido and Ifana groups are the earliest, dating to the early first mil-lennium BC. The later Pangwari and Tsaunim Gurara groups fall into the calibration curve plateau between ca 800 and 400 BC. The Pandauke group dates to the latter half of the first millennium BC, while the Ungwar Kura group is a specific, possibly regional variant of the two later groups.
The Ido group (10th–9th century BC) seems to represent a transition between the pottery of the second and the first millennium BC (Fig. 6.2). Banded motifs appear for the first time as do a small number of terra-cotta figurine fragments. The Ifana group encompasses four sites with radiocarbon dates between ca 900 and 770 BC; the pottery occurs in secure context with terra-cotta figurines and is characterised by bands filled with incised diagonal lines or cross-hatching and delimited by horizontal lines (Fig. 6.3). From the 8th century BC onwards, the number of sites increases significantly. New forms and decorations are added to the already known spectrum of Nok pottery. The main charac-teristic of the Pangwari group (ca 800–550 BC) are horizontal applications decorated with incisions, comb impressions or indentations, below which rocker comb impressions often cover a larger portion of the vessel body (Fig. 6.4). This group’s pottery still lacks the cari-nated vessel form and decorations of incised wavy and arched lines, which define the Tsaunim Gurara group (ca 800–400 BC) (Fig. 6.5). Though in absolute dates almost contemporaneous with the Pangwari group, a slightly younger development is suggested, especially since the typical Tsaunim Gurara decorations continue into the 4th and 3rd century BC — into the subsequent Pandauke group (ca 6th to 1st century BC). Besides arched and wavy lines, bands of several horizontal lines characterise the Pandauke group (Fig. 6.6). Another typical attribute are large, almost plate-like bowls.
In addition to these six pottery groups found at Nok sites throughout the key study area and beyond, there is a site to the east of the key study area called Ungwar Kura (2007/11; see Fig. 1) which features a large variety in decorations and forms — much greater than at other sites. Its pottery forms a separate group consisting of typical Nok pottery attributes as described above, but also of more complex decorations covering larger vessel parts and so-called pottery graters (Fig. 7). Pottery graters are otherwise only known from the Nok
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site of Taruga (Fagg 1967)8. Though absolute dates for Ungwar Kura range between the 8th and 2nd century BC, it is suggested that at least a major part of the site’s oc-cupation took place between the 5th and 2nd century BC.
Nok pottery is absent from sites dating to after the turn of the Common Era. Instead, new decorations in form of carved and fibre roulettes appear as well as new vessel form such as pedestalled bowls (Fig. 8). No detailed pottery analysis has been conducted yet on these post-Nok sites, but two pottery groups have been established to distinguish this pottery from Nok pottery and to differentiate between post-Nok sites with and without fibre roulette decorations. The Janruwa
8 The author had the opportunity to look at pottery excavated at Taruga by kind permission of Angela Fagg in August 2015. The decoration style and fragments of shallow bowls (as typical of the Pandauke and Ungwar Kura groups) suggest that the Taruga site also dates into the latter half of the first millennium BC.
group encompasses sites dating to the first millennium CE, containing pottery decorated primarily with carved wooden roulettes. Fibre roulette decorations start ap-pearing in a secure excavation context at the turn from the first to the second millennium AD. Sites from this time onwards are grouped together in the Gimba group. Most sites and dates in this group range between the 13th and 16th century AD.
As already indicated by different radiocarbon dates at some sites, the pottery analysis has confirmed that Nok sites are often not single-phased but were occupied during different times. Often, Puntun Dutse group pottery is found on sites of the first millennium BC together with Ido, Ifana, Pangwari, and/or Tsaunim Gurara group pottery. The younger Janruwa and Gimba groups are present as well. Not always do radiocarbon dates reflect the presence of all pottery groups at a site; even a single sherd can be an indication of an occupa-tion not datable in absolute terms.
Figure 6. Typical decorations of Nok Culture pottery groups: 1) Puntun Dutse group; 2) Ido group; 3) Ifana group; 4) Pangwari group; 5) Tsaunim Gurara group; 6) Pandauke group.
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Figure 7. Pottery grater from the site of Ungwar Kura (Ungwar Kura group).
Figure 8. Typical decorations and forms of post-Nok pottery groups: 1) Pedestalled bowl (Janruwa group); 2) Carved roulette (raised dot) potsherd (Janruwa group); 3) Carved roulette (ladder) potsherd (Gimba group); 4 & 5) Fibre roulette potsherds (Gimba group).
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Chronology of the Nok Culture
Bringing the results of the pottery analysis and the large number of absolute dates together, a chronology of the Nok Culture has been developed: The Nok Culture period encompasses about 1500 years between the middle of the second millennium BC and the turn of the Common Era. This period can be divided into three phases: Early Nok (ca 1500–900 BC), Middle Nok (ca 900–400 BC), and Late Nok (ca 400–1 BC). Sites dat-ing to after the turn of the Common Era are no longer associated with the Nok Culture (Fig. 9).
Early Nok sites are the first archaeologically visible settlement activities in the key study area appearing around the middle of the second millennium BC. No Nok terracotta figures are found in secure excavation contexts, but other factors demonstrate continuity and development into the first millennium BC sites: similari-ties in pottery attributes and the chemical composition of the clay used for pottery production (Beck 2015), reliance on pearl millet as a staple food, and continuity in site occupation (Fig. 10 shows sites included in the pottery analysis and their Nok occupation episodes). Some radiocarbon dates from sites containing Puntun Dutse pottery reach into the 10th century BC, during which time the pottery of the Ido group appears. With decorations of cross-hatching in horizontal bands it shows attributes of the Puntun Dutse pottery (cross-hatching) as well as of later Nok pottery groups (banded
motifs). Only few terracotta figurines fragments were found at the two sites of the Ido group, which is why this pottery group may represent the transition between the Early and the Middle Nok period.
Interestingly, the earlier beginning of the Nok Culture allows a re-evaluation of a radiocarbon date from Nok which was dismissed as too early (Fagg 1962: 445; Y-142-4; 2875±70 bp); calibrated, it spans a period between the 13th and 9th century BC and could indicate the presence of the Early Nok phase near Nok village. This is supported by a date from nearby Samun Dukiya, also thought too early for the Nok Culture, but nevertheless indicating human occupation (Fagg A. 1972; I-4914; 3470±115 bp). A calibrated age between 2130–1506 BC (2-sigma probability) may put it at the very beginning of the Early Nok phase.
From ca 900 BC onwards, the number of Nok sites in the research area increases substantially, and with them the number of radiocarbon dates. The Middle Nok phase is considered the main phase of the Nok Culture with a large spatial extension, terracotta figurines and iron work-ing. The sites of the Middle Nok phase regularly contain terracotta fragments (sometimes in form of depositions of parts of broken terracotta figurines, e.g. in Ifana or Pangwari), pottery often in large quantities, stone tools in varying quantities, and occasionally iron slag, furnaces (e.g. Intini, Pulu) and possibly iron objects. Several sites with terracotta figurines date before ca 800 BC and attest
Figure 9. Summed probability density of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project (n=159). Three Nok phases (Early, Middle, Late) are defined by absolute-chronological and pottery analysis. Sites after 1 BC/AD belong to other traditions, taken together as “post-Nok”.
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the beginning of the terracotta tradition in the 9th century BC at the latest. The calibration curve plateau between ca 800 and 400 BC does not allow a precise dating of sites. The pottery groups, however, show clear differences and to some degree suggest a chronological sequence — from Ifana pottery group to Pangwari and Tsaunim Gurara and then to Pandauke pottery group. The continuation of patterns from the Tsaunim Gurara to the Pandauke group and the disappearance of typical Pangwari group patterns suggest a somewhat younger age for the Tsaunim Gurara group. The earliest evidence of iron working in form of furnaces falls into the period of the calibration curve plateau. Some potsherds found at furnace sites, however, belong to the Tsaunim Gurara and Pandauke groups and suggest that iron working began not much earlier than the 7th century BC, and thus later than the Nok terracotta tradition.
Starting around 400 BC the number of sites dis-covered in the key study area decreases significantly. Only a few radiocarbon dates are available from a handful of sites attributed to this phase. However, ter-racotta fragments and pottery showing decorative Nok
elements link sites dating to the last centuries BC to the Nok Culture. It should be noted that outside the key study area (see Fig. 1) some Nok sites are assigned to the Late Nok phase as well. Ungwar Kura to the east is one of them, with at least one major occupation horizon dating to the latter half of the first millennium BC. The pottery graters found there link it to the site of Taruga (Fagg 1962), some 70 km to the west, for which most radiocarbon dates point to an occupation during the same time period. Another radiocarbon date falling into this phase comes from east of the key study area, from Samun Dukiya near the village of Nok (Fagg A. 1972). It is therefore suggested that the Nok Culture continued, on a smaller scale and/or in other areas, until about the turn of the Common Era.
The earliest sites of the Common Era in the key study area date as early as the 2nd century AD. Neither Nok terracotta figurines nor Nok pottery are found at these sites — nor at any other Common Era site, which are generally denser covered with artefacts. Inventories of the Janruwa and Gimba pottery groups show roulette decorations; in the key study area carved
Figure 10. Map showing the 48 sites included in pottery analysis with their absolute-chronological classification (Early, Middle, Late Nok). At eight of the twelve Early Nok sites, Middle Nok occupation episodes were present. The number of sites increases significantly in the Middle Nok phase, while only one Late Nok phase was identified in the project’s key study area (white box).
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wooden roulettes occur at least some centuries earlier than fibre roulettes (see David & Vidal 1977). Based on the differences in site structure, find material and the chemical composition of the clay used in pottery production (Beck 2015), the Common Era sites have no connection with the Nok Culture.
Conclusion
The chronological analyses have shown that the Nok Culture spans a period of about 1500 years. It is no longer defined by its characteristic terracotta figurines only, but includes an early phase without such figurines, connected through stylistic and material similarities in pottery and continuity in site occupation. The lack of earlier evidence of settlements suggests a migration of people with pearl millet as staple food into the region around the middle of the second millennium BC. The first terracotta figurines from secure excavation context appear in the early first millennium BC, in connection with a sharp increase in sites. Somewhat later evidence of iron working in form of furnaces is found. The main phase ends in the 4th century BC; few sites — within and outside of the key study area — are attributed the last centuries BC, obviously representing the final phase of the Nok Culture. It is not known what happened to the people of the Nok Culture that had so densely occupied the region. But settlement continues from the early centuries AD onwards, just in a different form: with new pottery decorations and forms, without figurines, and with new staple food (Höhn & Neumann 2016).
Even if the Nok Culture began much earlier than previously thought, the original age estimate of 500 BC–200 AD (Fagg 1990) is partly confirmed: the main phase of the Nok Culture with terracotta figurines and iron working falls into the first millennium BC. Boullier’s dates support this as well (Boullier et al. 2002/2003): with dates between the 9th and 2nd century BC they clearly belong to the period of Nok terracotta production. These dates also show the same sharp drop in the 4th century BC as the project’s dates do and they are as well not younger than the 2nd century BC, which supports to put the end of the Nok Culture around the turn of the Common Era.
The project’s research of the last 10 years has provided many new insights into the Nok Culture, into the terracotta figurines as well as into other aspects of material culture, settlement, iron working, and subsis-tence (Breunig & Rupp 2016; Höhn & Neumann 2016; Junius 2016; Männel & Breunig 2016). It has, how-ever, also documented the alarming scale of devastation of Nok sites by organised looters, selling their booty mostly to Asian, American, and European nationals, and the resulting irretrievable loss of scientific information,
needed to understand the enigma of the Nok Culture with its elaborate terracotta figurines. The information on the chronology of the Nok Culture presented here is a first step in this direction, but by far not the last one. Much more data from scientifically excavated sites and contextual, authentic find material are required to extend the chronological information, gained mostly in a rather small key study area, spatially and temporally — into neighbouring regions and subsequent times.
Acknowledgements
This research has been conducted within the scope of the long-term project “Development of complex societ-ies in sub-Saharan Africa: The Nigerian Nok Culture”, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. We thank our Nigerian cooperation partners, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Univer-sity of Jos, and the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and all people involved in the fieldwork in Nigeria. Special thanks go to Dr. Bernd Kromer and Susanne Lindauer M.Sc. from the Klaus-Tschira-Centre of Ar-chaeometry, who have supplied reliable and fast dates in the last years. Susanne Lindauer und Dr. Alexa Höhn have helped with useful comments on the text.
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728–
365
BC
Penn
iset
um-9
.920
06K
IA 3
0266
unit
A, 9
5 cm
dep
th20
11/3
8A
nkor
oB
omb
C14
Bom
b C
14Pl
ant f
ragm
ent
-28.
920
11M
AM
S 13
628
unit
A: e
xten
sion
, 100
cm
dep
th20
11/3
8A
nkor
o31
76±4
0 bp
1530
–131
6 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-31.
120
12M
AM
S 14
879
unit
A: b
otto
m o
f pit
feat
ure,
100
cm
dep
th (A
B 5
10)
2011
/38
Ank
oro
2849
±32
bp11
12–9
24 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-17.
020
11M
AM
S 13
629
unit
C: 5
th la
yer
2013
/02
Baid
esur
u Fu
rnac
e25
45±2
3 bp
799–
556
BC
Vite
x-2
8.1
2014
MA
MS
1928
9fu
rnac
e D
, infi
lling
2013
/02
Baid
esur
u Fu
rnac
e22
57±2
6 bp
395–
209
BC
Penn
iset
um-1
2.2
2014
MA
MS
1928
8fu
rnac
e B
, infi
lling
(AB
151
)20
06/0
2Ch
orib
arik
i 12
9±33
bp
1674
–194
2 A
DC
harc
oal
-26.
720
07U
tC 1
4863
unit
B5
2011
/40
Daj
i Gw
ana
2669
±38
bp90
1–79
6 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-17.
620
11M
AM
S 13
623
terr
acot
ta c
onte
xt (#
302,
AB
360
)20
11/4
0D
aji G
wan
a25
30±3
0 bp
797–
543
BC
Penn
iset
um-9
.620
14B
eta–
3826
20fin
d co
ncen
tratio
n (#
89, A
B 3
48)
2011
/40
Daj
i Gw
ana
2490
±30
bp78
1–51
1 B
CC
harc
oal
-25.
820
14B
eta–
3835
7te
rrac
otta
con
text
(#19
7, A
B 3
56)
2013
/04
Daj
i Gw
ana
Furn
ace
2508
±24
bp78
7–54
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-16.
320
14M
AM
S 19
291
furn
ace
C, i
nfilli
ng (A
B 1
44)
2013
/04
Daj
i Gw
ana
Furn
ace
1891
±31
bp54
–218
AD
Penn
iset
um-1
8.3
2014
MA
MS
1929
0fu
rnac
e B
, infi
lling
(AB
143
)20
11/4
1D
akko
121
60±4
5 bp
361–
61 B
CC
harc
oal
-32.
320
12M
AM
S 14
876
unit
2: 3
0–40
cm
dep
th (A
B 3
82)
2011
/08
Dam
aisa
210
8±21
bp
1685
–192
8 A
DC
harc
oal
-26.
220
11M
AM
S 14
386
surf
ace
colle
ctio
n on
ly (i
nfilli
ng fu
rnac
e, 2
0 cm
)20
12/1
8D
amba
1583
±21
bp42
0–53
9 A
DPe
nnis
etum
-5.4
2012
MA
MS
1511
280
cm
dep
th (#
2252
, AB
559
)20
11/4
2D
ogon
Daj
i 125
62±3
0 bp
806–
554
BC
Penn
iset
um-3
.520
11M
AM
S 13
632
unit
B: 8
0–10
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 5
06)
2011
/42
Dog
on D
aji 1
2552
±27
bp80
2–55
4 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-8.8
2012
MA
MS
1487
4un
it B
: nex
t to
tuyè
re fr
agm
ents
, 60–
80 c
m d
epth
(AB
478
)20
10/0
1D
oguw
a 1
2936
±26
bp12
22–1
047
BC
Penn
iset
um-1
7.0
2010
MA
MS
1115
5un
it 3:
low
er le
vel (
#810
4)20
10/0
1D
oguw
a 1
2428
±26
bp74
8–40
5 B
CC
harc
oal
-35.
120
10M
AM
S 11
152
unit
1: te
rrac
otta
con
text
(#55
21)
2010
/01
Dog
uwa
119
91±2
4 bp
44 B
C–6
1 A
DC
harc
oal
-27.
320
10M
AM
S 11
153
unit
1: b
otto
m o
f are
a C
(#63
96)
2010
/01
Dog
uwa
112
79±2
4 bp
671–
770
AD
Cha
rcoa
l-3
0.4
2010
MA
MS
1115
1un
it 1:
upp
er le
vel c
onta
inin
g sl
ag (#
2049
)20
10/0
1D
oguw
a 1
373±
23 b
p14
49–1
630
AD
Cha
rcoa
l-2
6.9
2010
MA
MS
1115
4un
it 3:
upp
er le
vel (
#729
4)20
11/4
4D
utse
n Re
ma
616±
28 b
p12
95–1
400
AD
Cha
rcoa
l-2
4.6
2011
MA
MS
1365
6(#
807)
2010
/02
Gid
an D
anaz
umi
2495
±26
bp77
6–53
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-24.
620
10M
AM
S 11
156
(#37
1)20
11/4
6G
imba
490±
30 b
p14
04–1
450
AD
Sorg
hum
-10.
020
11B
eta–
2972
84(#
1239
)20
11/4
7G
ona
Kish
emi
422±
25 b
p14
29–1
614
AD
Cha
rred
seed
-18.
720
12M
AM
S 14
875
30–4
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 3
96)
2005
/01
Idda
h 3
2514
±42
bp79
8–51
0 B
CC
harc
oal
-26.
320
06U
tC 1
4080
unit
B2,
40
cm d
epth
2009
/01
Ido
3036
±26
bp13
93–1
216
BC
Penn
iset
um-1
3.2
2011
MA
MS
1366
4(#
816,
AB
185
)20
09/0
1Id
o27
68±1
3 bp
974–
846
BC
Cha
rcoa
l-2
3.4
2009
MA
MS
1070
3ar
ea B
2009
/01
Ido
2708
±13
bp89
8–81
9 B
CC
harc
oal
-28.
520
09M
AM
S 10
702
(#10
39)
2009
/01
Ido
2704
±23
bp90
1–81
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-22.
920
10M
AM
S 10
742
pit f
eatu
re, 1
00 c
m d
epth
(#10
55, A
B 1
90)
2009
/01
Ido
2408
±23
bp72
8–40
3 B
CC
harc
oal
-37.
720
10M
AM
S 10
741
30–4
0 cm
dep
th (#
882,
AB
176
)20
11/4
8Ifa
na26
32±3
4 bp
893–
772
BC
Penn
iset
um-1
4.6
2011
MA
MS
1362
4un
it 1:
bel
ow te
rrac
otta
find
s (A
B 3
64)
2011
/48
Ifana
2586
±25
bp81
1–76
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-15.
320
11M
AM
S 13
634
unit
2: fe
atur
e N
E–co
rner
(#44
9, A
B 3
62)
2011
/48
Ifana
2550
±25
bp80
1–55
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-16.
820
11M
AM
S 13
635
unit
2: fe
atur
e SW
–cor
ner (
#554
, AB
375
)20
10/0
3In
tini
2421
±25
bp73
6–40
4 B
CC
harc
oal
-31.
120
10M
AM
S 11
159
unit
6: fu
rnac
e co
ntex
t (#1
356)
2010
/03
Intin
i23
92±2
5 bp
703–
398
BC
Cha
rcoa
l-2
6.4
2010
MA
MS
1115
7un
it 1:
furn
ace
cont
ext (
#544
)20
10/0
3In
tini
151±
22 b
p16
66–1
950
AD
Cha
rcoa
l-3
1.5
2010
MA
MS
1115
8un
it 5
(#62
8)20
06/0
3Ja
njal
a A24
31±4
5 bp
755–
403
BC
Penn
iset
um-1
1.0
2006
KIA
302
65un
it 5,
15
cm d
epth
2013
/15
Janj
ala
Furn
ace
2144
±24
bp35
3–93
BC
Plan
t fra
gmen
t-1
9.6
2014
MA
MS
1929
3fu
rnac
e B
, infi
lling
(AB
136
)20
13/1
5Ja
njal
a Fu
rnac
e11
01±2
5 bp
889–
994
AD
Penn
iset
um-1
2.8
2014
MA
MS
1929
4fu
rnac
e A, i
nfilli
ng (A
B 1
37)
Tabl
e 1
(con
tinue
d on
nex
t pag
es).
AM
S-ra
dioc
arbo
n da
tes o
btai
ned
betw
een
2005
and
201
4 by
the
Fran
kfur
t Nok
pro
ject
(n=1
74).
Info
rmat
ion
incl
udes
site
num
ber &
nam
e, c
onve
ntio
nal
14C
age
and
1-s
igm
a er
ror i
n ye
ars b
p, c
alib
rate
d ag
e (B
C/A
D) w
ith 2
-sig
ma
prob
abili
ty, d
ated
mat
eria
l and
δ13
C v
alue
, lab
orat
ory
num
ber a
nd y
ear o
f dat
ing,
and
con
text
info
rmat
ion
for t
he
date
d sa
mpl
e (“
AB
” re
fers
to th
e nu
mbe
r of t
he a
rcha
eobo
tani
cal s
ampl
e, fr
om w
hich
the
date
d m
ater
ial w
as ta
ken;
“#”
giv
es th
e in
divi
dual
ly re
cord
ed fi
nd n
umbe
r). T
he c
onve
ntio
nal 14
C
ages
are
cal
ibra
ted
with
OxC
al 4
.2, I
ntC
al13
(Bro
nk R
amse
y 20
09; R
eime
r et
al.
2013
).
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016278
Site
no.
Site
nam
eC
onve
ntio
nal 14
C
age
in y
ears
bp
Cal
ibra
ted
age
(BC
/AD
) 95
.4%
pro
babi
lity
Mat
eria
l dat
edδ13
C in
‰
Year
da
ted
Lab
orat
ory
no.
Con
text
info
rmat
ion
for
sam
ple
2006
/04
Janr
uwa A
Bom
b C
14B
omb
C14
Seed
frag
men
t-1
7.7
2013
MA
MS
1741
4un
it A
, fea
ture
120
06/0
4Ja
nruw
a A94
20±6
0 bp
9116
–854
7 B
CC
harc
oal
-28.
320
07U
tC 1
4865
unit
D, 6
0 cm
dep
th, b
enea
th te
rrac
otta
2006
/04
Janr
uwa A
2542
±32
bp80
1–54
6 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-8.5
2006
KIA
302
67un
it 5,
60
cm d
epth
2009
/02
Janr
uwa
B76
22±3
4 bp
6566
–642
3 B
CC
harc
oal
-27.
620
10M
AM
S 10
745
50 c
m d
epth
(#59
7)20
09/0
2Ja
nruw
a B
2495
±43
bp79
2–43
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
-11.
920
10M
AM
S 10
744
30 c
m d
epth
(#27
6, A
B 1
57)
2009
/02
Janr
uwa
B24
89±2
8 bp
776–
514
BC
Cha
rcoa
l-2
8.3
2011
MA
MS
1366
3(#
625)
2010
/04
Janr
uwa
C27
09±2
7 bp
906–
810
BC
Penn
iset
um-2
8.1
2010
MA
MS
1116
0fe
atur
e 6
(#21
28)
2010
/04
Janr
uwa
C18
00±4
0 bp
94–3
38 A
DFo
nio
n/a
2010
Bet
a–27
8001
feat
ure
8 (#
7341
)20
10/0
4Ja
nruw
a C
1799
±24
bp13
3–32
2 A
DC
harc
oal
-27.
720
10M
AM
S 11
162
slag
and
cha
rcoa
l con
cent
ratio
n (#
5803
)20
10/0
4Ja
nruw
a C
1740
±30
bp23
6–38
6 A
DFo
nio
-8.3
2011
Bet
a–29
7287
feat
ure
6 (#
4485
)20
10/0
4Ja
nruw
a C
1719
±24
bp25
2–38
9 A
DC
harc
oal
-33.
720
10M
AM
S 11
161
burn
t cla
y co
ncen
tratio
n (#
3156
)20
11/5
0Ja
nruw
a E
1797
±23
bp13
4–32
2 A
DPe
nnis
etum
-7.4
2011
MA
MS
1363
613
th la
yer,
120
cm d
epth
(AB
473
)20
06/0
5Jo
h M
ari
2193
±38
bp37
7–16
8 B
CC
harc
oal
-26.
520
07U
tC 1
4864
from
with
in fu
rnac
e, 3
5 cm
dep
th20
09/0
3K
acha
ma
126
21±2
5 bp
827–
785
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
4.7
2011
MA
MS
1366
5un
it A
(#30
7, A
B 1
43)
2009
/14
Kac
ham
a 2
8791
±18
bp79
53–7
756
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
7.0
2009
MA
MS
1070
1un
it C
: 40
cm d
epth
(#24
)20
09/1
4K
acha
ma
232
82±2
2 bp
1616
–150
6 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
520
11M
AM
S 13
667
unit
B (#
479,
AB
135
)20
09/1
4K
acha
ma
232
30±2
2 bp
1600
–143
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–16.
620
12M
AM
S 15
423
unit
B (#
479,
AB
135
)20
09/1
4K
acha
ma
231
50±3
0 bp
1500
–131
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–17.
320
12B
eta–
3207
23un
it B
(#47
9, A
B 1
35)
2009
/14
Kac
ham
a 2
3094
±14
bp14
16–1
301
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
5.1
2009
MA
MS
1070
0un
it B
: 40
cm d
epth
(#55
8)20
09/1
4K
acha
ma
225
30±3
0 bp
797–
543
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
6.0
2014
Bet
a–38
2622
unit
A (#
186,
AB
148
)20
09/1
4K
acha
ma
224
91±2
8 bp
776–
516
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–3
0.8
2011
MA
MS
1366
6un
it A
(#15
5, A
B 1
50)
2009
/14
Kac
ham
a 2
190±
30 b
pfr
om 1
648
AD
Plan
t fra
gmen
t–1
3.7
2014
Bet
a–38
2623
unit
B (#
167,
AB
184
)20
11/2
4K
agun
i 122
40±3
0 bp
390–
205
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
6.5
2012
Bet
a–31
3506
surf
ace
colle
ctio
n on
ly (A
B 5
24)
2012
/01
Kag
uni 2
2567
±24
bp80
6–59
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–12.
120
14M
AM
S 19
296
surf
ace
colle
ctio
n on
ly (A
B 5
96)
2011
/52
Kan
gale
2538
±23
bp79
6–55
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–12.
820
11M
AM
S 13
637
unit
3: 2
0–40
cm
dep
th (A
B 4
73)
2011
/53
Kas
angw
ai 2
2655
±29
bp89
5–79
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–21.
120
11M
AM
S 13
638
90 c
m d
epth
(#16
82, A
B 4
31)
2013
/03
Kol
in K
uchi
mi F
urna
ceB
omb
C14
Bom
b C
14Se
ed fr
agm
ent
n/a
2014
MA
MS
1929
8fu
rnac
e C
, infi
lling
(AB
147
)20
13/0
3K
olin
Kuc
him
i Fur
nace
2445
±18
bp74
9–41
2 B
CSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–23.
420
14M
AM
S 19
297
furn
ace
B, i
nfilli
ng (A
B 1
46)
2011
/55
Kud
u 3
2570
±27
bp80
8–59
0 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–9.1
2012
MA
MS
1487
320
–40
cm d
epth
(AB
481
)20
11/0
6K
ufai
Gw
ari 2
2776
±24
bp99
7–84
6 B
CC
harr
ed se
ed–2
4.8
2011
MA
MS
1438
840
–60
cm d
epth
2011
/57
Kuf
ai K
uku
225
85±3
0 bp
818–
592
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–1
7.3
2011
MA
MS
1364
040
–60
cm d
epth
(AB
507
)20
10/0
5K
urm
in U
wa
124
64±2
5 bp
763–
431
BC
Can
ariu
m–3
2.3
2010
MA
MS
1116
3fe
atur
e 2
(#16
98, A
B 2
76)
2010
/06
Kur
min
Uw
a 2
2523
±24
bp79
2–54
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
920
10M
AM
S 11
164
unit
B (#
326)
2010
/06
Kur
min
Uw
a 2
1406
±23
bp60
5–66
1 A
DC
harc
oal
–20.
020
10M
AM
S 11
165
unit
C (#
79)
2010
/07
Kus
he 3
2437
±24
bp74
9–40
8 B
CC
harc
oal
–34.
920
10M
AM
S 11
166
50 c
m d
epth
(AB
297
)20
10/0
8K
ushe
724
43±2
7 bp
751–
409
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
3.3
2010
MA
MS
1116
770
cm
dep
th (A
B 2
95)
2010
/09
Kus
uma
2581
±34
bp81
8–55
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–7.7
2010
MA
MS
1116
9un
it 2:
feat
ure
2, 5
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 2
88)
2010
/09
Kus
uma
2516
±32
bp79
4–54
0 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.7
2010
MA
MS
1116
8un
it 1:
feat
ure
2, 5
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 2
62)
2011
/59
Mas
hiki
n D
ando
kaB
omb
C14
Bom
b C
14Pl
ant f
ragm
ent
–29.
420
11M
AM
S 13
641
(#23
2, A
B 4
71)
2011
/59
Mas
hiki
n D
ando
ka10
53±2
6 bp
901–
1025
AD
Cha
rcoa
l–2
4.8
2012
MA
MS
1488
0(#
321,
AB
467
)20
11/6
0M
ashi
kin
Kad
un27
83±2
7 bp
1005
–846
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
3.6
2011
MA
MS
1365
7un
it 2:
20–
40 c
m d
epth
2011
/60
Mas
hiki
n K
adun
2509
±24
bp78
8–54
2 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–12.
820
11M
AM
S 13
642
unit
1: 8
0–10
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 5
94)
2009
/05
Pabe
ki25
20±3
0 bp
795–
542
BC
Penn
iset
um–9
.220
14B
eta–
3836
34un
it 3
(#18
9, A
B 1
67)
2009
/05
Pabe
ki24
14±2
3 bp
729–
404
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
0.6
2010
MA
MS
1074
3un
it 1:
50
cm d
epth
(#27
1)20
09/0
6Pa
ndau
ke23
61±2
8 bp
516–
385
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
5.2
2010
MA
MS
1096
250
cm
dep
th (#
462)
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 279
Site
no.
Site
nam
eC
onve
ntio
nal 14
C
age
in y
ears
bp
Cal
ibra
ted
age
(BC
/AD
) 95
.4%
pro
babi
lity
Mat
eria
l dat
edδ13
C in
‰
Year
da
ted
Lab
orat
ory
no.
Con
text
info
rmat
ion
for
sam
ple
2012
/34
Pang
war
iB
omb
C14
Bom
b C
14Pe
nnis
etum
–15.
120
13M
AM
S 17
858
ston
e ci
rcle
, 25
cm (#
275,
AB
37)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i31
72±1
8 bp
1497
–141
5 B
CSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–15.
920
14M
AM
S 19
307
unit
F: 1
7 cm
, (#4
54, A
B 1
05)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i30
93±1
6 bp
1416
–129
8 B
CC
anar
ium
–26.
320
13M
AM
S 17
851
unit
E: fe
atur
e 12
, 57
cm (#
5017
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
3016
±16
bp13
56–1
211
BC
Penn
iset
um–7
.620
13M
AM
S 17
859
ston
e ci
rcle
, fea
ture
4, 8
6 cm
(#48
7, A
B 4
4)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2985
±40
bp13
81–1
056
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
1.8
2013
KIA
495
09un
it E:
feat
ure
12, 5
5 cm
(#52
24, A
B 7
8)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2973
±19
bp12
60–1
125
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
5.1
2013
MA
MS
1784
5un
it C
: nea
r pot
tery
(ear
ly N
ok),
29 c
m (#
2002
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2940
±30
bp12
57–1
044
BC
Penn
iset
um–8
.620
13K
IA 4
9508
unit
B: f
eatu
re 2
B, 7
3 cm
(#10
13, A
B 4
0)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2826
±17
bp10
25–9
18 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–6.5
2014
MA
MS
1930
3un
it E:
feat
ure
11, 7
4 cm
(#57
94, A
B 1
12)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i27
80±2
1 bp
1001
–848
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
6.3
2013
KIA
495
10un
it E:
feat
ure
12, 8
9 cm
(#59
32)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i26
17±1
5 bp
812–
791
BC
Penn
iset
um–8
.820
13M
AM
S 17
852
unit
E: n
ear f
eatu
re 1
1, 4
8 cm
(#53
46, A
B 7
2)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2610
±17
bp80
4–79
4 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–7.9
2014
MA
MS
1930
6un
it E:
feat
ure
11, 1
53 c
m (#
6636
, AB
126
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2610
±30
bp82
6–77
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.7
2013
Bet
a–34
7870
unit
D: f
eatu
re 9
– lo
wer
leve
l, 12
3 cm
(#37
53, A
B 7
0)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2600
±30
bp82
6–76
3 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–9.4
2013
Bet
a–34
7871
unit
E: fe
atur
e 10
, 53
cm (#
4829
, AB
68)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i25
91±1
8 bp
806–
775
BC
Penn
iset
um–9
.820
14M
AM
S 19
301
unit
D: f
eatu
re 9
, 86
cm (#
3406
, AB
123
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2590
±18
bp80
5–77
4 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
420
14M
AM
S 19
309
ston
e ci
rcle
: fea
ture
4, 1
20 c
m (#
505,
AB
129
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2581
±17
bp80
3–77
3 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–14.
320
14M
AM
S 19
304
unit
E: fe
atur
e 10
, 96
cm (#
6106
, AB
116
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2577
±17
bp80
1–77
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.1
2014
MA
MS
1930
5un
it E:
feat
ure
12, 1
10 c
m (#
6240
, AB
107
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2574
±15
bp80
1–77
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–9.4
2013
MA
MS
1784
2un
it B
: fea
ture
2B
, 77
cm (#
1352
, AB
32)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i25
53±1
6 bp
800–
597
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
9.6
2013
MA
MS
1785
4un
it E:
bet
wee
n fe
atur
e 11
and
12,
171
cm
(#66
48)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i25
45±2
2 bp
799–
556
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
7.1
2014
MA
MS
1930
8un
it F:
find
con
cent
ratio
n, 4
3 cm
(#75
6, A
B 1
04)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i25
24±1
5 bp
790–
553
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
4.8
2013
MA
MS
1785
3un
it E:
eas
t of f
eatu
re 1
0, 1
24 c
m (#
6620
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2510
±16
bp77
6–54
7 B
CC
harc
oal
–23.
720
13M
AM
S 17
855
unit
E: fe
atur
e 11
, 182
cm
(#66
92)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i25
04±1
8 bp
776–
543
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
3.9
2014
MA
MS
1930
0un
it D
: fea
ture
8, 5
0 cm
(#32
42)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i24
90±2
1 bp
770–
540
BC
Penn
iset
um–4
3.8
2013
MA
MS
1784
9un
it D
: fea
ture
9 –
upp
er le
vel,
54 c
m (#
2910
, AB
54)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i24
81±1
6 bp
762–
540
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
3.8
2013
MA
MS
1785
7un
it F:
feat
ure
13, 3
1 cm
(#75
2)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2480
±30
bp77
4–43
4 B
CC
harc
oal
–23.
120
13B
eta–
3478
73un
it E:
feat
ure
10, 9
0 cm
(#61
03)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i24
63±1
8 bp
758–
435
BC
Penn
iset
um–7
.620
14M
AM
S 19
299
unit
B: f
eatu
re 2
B, 4
5 cm
(#11
05, A
B 4
3)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2461
±19
bp75
7–43
1 B
CSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–23.
620
13M
AM
S 17
844
unit
C: n
ear t
erra
cotta
par
t, 28
cm
(#18
08, A
B 4
8)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2450
±30
bp75
4–41
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–13.
020
12B
eta–
3135
0720
11 te
st e
xcav
atio
n (u
nit B
), 60
–80
cm d
epth
(AB
523
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2310
±30
bp41
1–23
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
220
13B
eta–
3478
72un
it E:
feat
ure
11 –
mid
dle
leve
l, 72
cm
(#57
50, A
B 7
3)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2105
±21
bp19
1–54
BC
Penn
iset
um–5
.620
14M
AM
S 19
302
unit
E: fe
atur
e 10
, 54
cm (#
4924
, AB
108
)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
2037
±14
bp93
BC
–5 A
DPe
nnis
etum
–9.0
2013
MA
MS
1785
0un
it D
: fea
ture
8, 5
0 cm
(#32
46, A
B 5
5)20
12/3
4Pa
ngw
ari
971±
14 b
p10
19–1
150
AD
Penn
iset
um–1
9.8
2013
MA
MS
1784
8un
it D
: nea
r pot
tery
(ear
ly N
ok),
36 c
m (#
2698
, AB
56)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i90
4±15
bp
1042
–118
4 A
DSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–26.
320
13M
AM
S 17
856
unit
F: c
harc
oal a
nd te
rrac
otta
, 26
cm (#
289,
AB
77)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i38
3±14
bp
1449
–161
6 A
DSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–13.
020
13M
AM
S 17
843
unit
B: f
eatu
re 3
(pos
sibl
e fir
e pi
t), 3
7 cm
dep
th (#
1357
, AB
39)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i36
5±14
bp
1454
–162
4 A
DSe
ed fr
agm
ent
–25.
420
13M
AM
S 17
846
unit
C: f
eatu
re 6
, 41
cm (#
2051
, AB
50)
2012
/34
Pang
war
i19
9±14
bp
1659
–195
5 A
DC
harc
oal
–22.
920
13M
AM
S 17
847
unit
D: n
ear p
otte
ry (e
arly
Nok
), 14
cm
(#24
21)
2010
/11
Pant
aki 1
3135
±21
bp14
89–1
310
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
6.2
2010
MA
MS
1117
0un
it D
: 30–
50 c
m d
epth
2011
/12
Pant
aki 3
2907
±21
bp11
93–1
015
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
6.8
2010
MA
MS
1117
1un
it A
: 50
cm d
epth
(AB
289
)20
11/1
2Pa
ntak
i 328
74±2
1 bp
1120
–977
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
6.7
2010
MA
MS
1117
2un
it B
: 30
cm d
epth
(AB
286
)20
11/6
2Pu
lu25
12±3
0 bp
791–
541
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–1
7.7
2011
MA
MS
1364
3fu
rnac
e co
ntex
t (A
B 3
50)
2011
/63
Punt
un D
utse
3011
±37
bp13
91–1
126
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
8.3
2011
MA
MS
1362
6un
it E:
are
a Ib
– in
side
ston
e ci
rcle
(#97
7, A
B 4
51)
2011
/63
Punt
un D
utse
2925
±27
bp12
14–1
030
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
6.5
2011
MA
MS
1364
6un
it E:
are
a Ia
– o
utsi
de st
one
circ
le (#
161,
AB
457
)20
11/6
3Pu
ntun
Dut
se29
18±2
6 bp
1209
–102
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–21.
220
11M
AM
S 13
645
unit
E: a
rea
III (
#115
0, A
B 4
54)
2011
/63
Punt
un D
utse
2730
±29
bp92
7–81
4 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–6.3
2011
MA
MS
1362
5un
it D
: 90
cm d
epth
(AB
455
)20
11/6
3Pu
ntun
Dut
se25
80±2
5 bp
810–
598
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
7.0
2011
MA
MS
1364
4un
it B
: 100
cm
dep
th (A
B 4
41)
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016280
Site
no.
Site
nam
eC
onve
ntio
nal 14
C
age
in y
ears
bp
Cal
ibra
ted
age
(BC
/AD
) 95
.4%
pro
babi
lity
Mat
eria
l dat
edδ13
C in
‰
Year
da
ted
Lab
orat
ory
no.
Con
text
info
rmat
ion
for
sam
ple
2011
/64
Rafin
Abu
tu26
61±2
8 bp
895–
795
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
5.5
2011
MA
MS
1364
740
–60
cm d
epth
(AB
486
)20
12/0
4Ra
fin A
dada
24
94±2
1 bp
772–
540
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
8.9
2012
MA
MS
1511
160
–80
cm d
epth
(AB
556
)20
12/1
9Ra
fin D
ako
1829
±20
bp13
0–23
8 A
DPe
nnis
etum
–5.4
2012
MA
MS
1511
350
cm
dep
th (A
B 5
65)
2011
/65
Rafin
Pah
125
46±3
0 bp
801–
549
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
0.8
2011
MA
MS
1364
8un
it 2:
80–
100
cm d
epth
(AB
480
)20
12/2
6Ra
fin P
ah 2
2811
±22
bp10
15–9
06 B
CC
anar
ium
–27.
920
12M
AM
S 15
114
unit
F, 2
0–40
cm
dep
th20
11/0
7Ru
ga F
ulan
i Fur
nace
2555
±27
bp80
3–55
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–19.
520
14M
AM
S 19
312
furn
ace
B, i
nfilli
ng (A
B 1
40)
2011
/07
Ruga
Ful
ani F
urna
ce24
25±2
0 bp
731–
408
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
9.4
2014
MA
MS
1931
0fu
rnac
e A, i
nfilli
ng (A
B 1
39)
2011
/66
Sabo
n Ja
nruw
a27
03±3
1 bp
908–
806
BC
Elai
s–2
4.0
2011
MA
MS
1364
9un
it 2
(#34
1)20
11/6
6Sa
bon
Janr
uwa
2450
±27
bp75
3–41
2 B
CC
harc
oal
–29.
020
11M
AM
S 13
658
unit
1: fu
rnac
e co
ntex
t (#3
86, A
B 3
40)
2011
/67
Taka
Lafi
ya28
48±2
4 bp
1107
–927
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
4.2
2011
MA
MS
136
5080
cm
dep
th (#
2207
, AB
402
)20
11/6
7Ta
ka L
afiya
2723
±27
bp91
6–81
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.5
2012
MA
MS
1487
8fe
atur
e 3
(AB
424
)20
11/6
7Ta
ka L
afiya
2665
±28
bp89
5–79
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–11.
520
12M
AM
S 14
877
feat
ure
4 (A
B 4
08)
2011
/67
Taka
Lafi
ya25
39±2
8 bp
798–
549
BC
Can
ariu
m–2
1.6
2011
MA
MS
1362
7se
dim
ent f
rom
ant
hrop
omor
ph v
esse
l (#3
216,
AB
445
)20
10/1
3Ts
auni
m B
akka
124
93±2
1 bp
771–
540
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
1.2
2010
MA
MS
1117
340
–60
cm d
epth
(AB
282
)20
11/6
8Ts
auni
m G
urar
a 1
2560
±20
bp80
2–59
4 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
320
11M
AM
S 13
651
unit
1: 4
0–60
cm
dep
th (A
B 4
65)
2011
/68
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
125
49±2
6 bp
801–
553
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
6.6
2011
MA
MS
1365
2un
it 2:
40–
60 c
m d
epth
(AB
468
)20
11/6
9Ts
auni
m M
agan
da30
01±2
3 bp
1375
–112
8 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
820
11M
AM
S 13
653
feat
ure
1, 7
0 cm
dep
th (A
B 3
98)
2011
/70
Tudu
n D
osa
2571
±26
bp80
8–59
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–10.
320
11M
AM
S 13
654
unit
2: u
pper
laye
r (#2
51, A
B 3
21)
2011
/70
Tudu
n D
osa
2470
±40
bp76
8–43
0 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.7
2011
Bet
a–29
7286
unit
2: lo
wer
laye
r (#4
95)
2011
/04
Tudu
n K
aura
Bom
b C
14B
omb
C14
Plan
t fra
gmen
t–2
5.7
2011
MA
MS
1438
710
–20
cm d
epth
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a91
77±5
6 bp
8547
–828
5 B
CC
harc
oal
–23.
120
08Er
l–12
293
unit
1: p
it fe
atur
e, 8
0 cm
dep
th (#
81)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a26
27±2
5 bp
830–
788
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
7.9
2011
MA
MS
1366
0un
it 6
(#43
1, A
B 1
23)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a26
20±3
0 bp
831–
775
BC
Penn
iset
um–9
.320
14B
eta–
3826
33un
it 16
(#26
4, A
B 1
21)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a25
80±3
0 bp
814–
590
BC
Seed
frag
men
t–2
3.8
2014
Bet
a–38
2626
unit
5 (#
271,
AB
84)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a25
79±2
0 bp
803–
770
BC
Penn
iset
um–7
.120
12M
AM
S 15
414
unit
6 (#
431,
AB
123
)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2540
±30
bp79
9–54
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–23.
120
14B
eta–
3826
24un
it 1
(#20
2, A
B 6
9)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2540
±30
bp79
9–54
7 B
CC
anar
ium
–26.
020
14B
eta–
3836
27un
it 5
(#42
0, A
B 8
5)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2540
±30
bp79
9–54
7 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–9.5
2014
Bet
a–38
2631
unit
9–2
(#18
99, A
B 1
07)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a25
31±2
1 bp
794–
551
BC
Penn
iset
um–7
.820
11M
AM
S 13
662
unit
16 (#
185,
AB
118
)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2520
±49
bp80
1–48
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.3
2008
Erl–
1229
4un
it 1:
nex
t to
terr
acot
ta h
ead,
80
cm d
epth
(#34
5)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2475
±30
bp77
1–43
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–15.
520
11M
AM
S 13
661
unit
14 (#
419,
AB
120
)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2470
±30
bp76
8–43
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–9.7
2014
Bet
a–38
2628
unit
7 (#
356,
AB
97)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a24
60±3
0 bp
758–
429
BC
Penn
iset
um–8
.420
14B
eta–
3826
29un
it 7
(#43
0, A
B 9
4)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2440
±30
bp75
1–40
8 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–8.9
2012
Bet
a–32
0724
unit
6 (#
431,
AB
123
)20
07/0
1U
ngw
ar K
ura
2410
±30
bp73
9–40
1 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–25.
520
14B
eta–
3848
55un
it 12
(#13
58, A
B 1
14)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a23
74±4
6 bp
748–
371
BC
Penn
iset
um–8
.820
08Er
l–12
295
unit
12: p
it fe
atur
e, 8
0 cm
dep
th (#
634)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a23
60±3
0 bp
536–
383
BC
Penn
iset
um–2
4.4
2014
Bet
a–38
2630
unit
9 (#
684,
AB
99)
2007
/01
Ung
war
Kur
a22
41±5
3 bp
400–
186
BC
Penn
iset
um–1
0.1
2008
KIA
363
67un
it 9:
110
cm
dep
th (#
1764
)20
08/0
5U
tak
Kam
uan
Gar
aje
Kag
oro
2600
±22
bp81
0–77
5 B
CPe
nnis
etum
–12.
720
11M
AM
S 13
655
unit
6 (#
251,
AB
394
)20
08/0
5U
tak
Kam
uan
Gar
aje
Kag
oro
2463
±22
bp76
1–43
1 B
CC
anar
ium
–28.
220
13M
AM
S 16
184
unit
H20
08/0
5U
tak
Kam
uan
Gar
aje
Kag
oro
2463
±30
bp76
3–43
0 B
CC
anar
ium
–35.
520
11M
AM
S 13
659
unit
5 (#
94)
2008
/05
Uta
k K
amua
n G
araj
e K
agor
o23
92±2
7 bp
727–
397
BC
Cha
rcoa
l–2
4,4
2008
KIA
363
68un
it H
, 60
cm d
epth
Tabl
e 1
(end
). A
MS-
radi
ocar
bon
date
s obt
aine
d be
twee
n 20
05 a
nd 2
014
by th
e Fr
ankf
urt N
ok p
roje
ct (n
=174
). In
form
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
umbe
r & n
ame,
con
vent
iona
l 14C
age
and
1-s
igm
a er
ror i
n ye
ars b
p, c
alib
rate
d ag
e (B
C/A
D) w
ith 2
-sig
ma
prob
abili
ty, d
ated
mat
eria
l and
δ13
C v
alue
, lab
orat
ory
num
ber a
nd y
ear o
f dat
ing,
and
con
text
info
rmat
ion
for t
he d
ated
sam
ple
(“A
B”
refe
rs to
the
num
ber o
f the
arc
haeo
bota
nica
l sam
ple,
from
whi
ch th
e da
ted
mat
eria
l was
take
n; “
#” g
ives
the
indi
vidu
ally
reco
rded
find
num
ber)
. The
con
vent
iona
l 14C
age
s are
cal
ibra
ted
with
O
xCal
4.2
, Int
Cal
13 (B
ronk
Ram
sey
2009
; Rei
mer
et a
l. 20
13).
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 281
Site
no.
Site
nam
eA
ge in
yea
rsA
ge r
ange
in c
alen
dar
year
s BC
/AD
Met
hod
Lab
orat
ory
no.
Year
of
colle
ctio
nB
ase
year
Dat
ed m
ater
ial
Rem
arks
2006
/01
Aku
ra28
99±1
7210
64–7
20 B
CO
SL5A
7220
0620
07te
rrac
otta
frag
men
tex
cava
tion
unit
72, 7
0 cm
dep
th20
06/0
9A
kway
a D
aji
2766
±171
930–
588
BC
OSL
4AK
W20
0620
07te
rrac
otta
frag
men
tco
llect
ed fr
om lo
otin
g ho
le20
11/3
8A
nkor
o26
05±1
6075
8–43
8 B
CO
SL2A
NK
2006
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
colle
cted
from
loot
ing
hole
2011
/38
Ank
oro
2390
±248
518–
248
BC
OSL
1AN
K20
0620
07te
rrac
otta
frag
men
tco
llect
ed fr
om lo
otin
g ho
le20
05/0
3A
nzah
Gid
a25
75±1
7974
7–38
9 B
CO
SLK
955
2005
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
rece
ived
from
loca
ls20
05/0
3A
nzah
Gid
a25
67±1
6872
8–39
2 B
CO
SLK
953
2005
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
rece
ived
from
loca
ls20
05/0
3A
nzah
Gid
a24
21±1
8559
9–22
9 B
CO
SLK
957
2005
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
rece
ived
from
loca
ls20
13/0
2B
aide
suru
1750
±100
164–
364
AD
TLM
AL
1012
320
1320
14tu
yère
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e A20
11/4
0D
aji G
wan
a21
00±2
5033
7 B
C–1
63 A
DTL
MA
L 10
090
2011
2013
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
# 19
820
13/1
4D
aji G
wan
a Fu
rnac
e19
00±1
5036
BC
–264
AD
TLM
AL
1012
620
1320
14fu
rnac
e fr
agm
ent
furn
ace A
2013
/14
Daj
i Gw
ana
Furn
ace
1900
±150
36 B
C–2
64 A
DTL
MA
L 10
127
2013
2014
furn
ace
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e B
2013
/14
Daj
i Gw
ana
Furn
ace
1750
±100
164–
364
AD
TLM
AL
1012
820
1320
14fu
rnac
e fr
agm
ent
furn
ace
C20
05/0
1Id
dah
326
81±1
8686
0–48
8 B
CO
SLK
959
2005
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
exca
vatio
n un
it B
, 50
cm d
epth
2009
/01
Ido
700±
7512
38–1
388
AD
TLM
AL
1009
120
1020
13po
tshe
rdte
st tr
ench
2010
/03
Intin
i25
00±2
0068
7–28
7 B
CTL
MA
L 10
095
2010
2013
furn
ace
frag
men
tun
it 6
2013
/15
Janj
ala
Furn
ace
1700
±150
164–
464
AD
TLM
AL
1013
020
1320
14fu
rnac
e fr
agm
ent
furn
ace
B20
13/1
5Ja
njal
a Fu
rnac
e16
50±1
5021
4–51
4 A
DTL
MA
L 10
129
2013
2014
furn
ace
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e A20
13/1
5Ja
njal
a Fu
rnac
e14
50±1
5041
4–71
4 A
DTL
MA
L 10
131
2013
2014
furn
ace
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e C
2013
/03
Kol
in K
uchi
mi
1500
±150
364–
664
AD
TLM
AL
1013
220
1320
14fu
rnac
e fr
agm
ent
furn
ace
B20
05/1
5K
urm
in L
emu
2364
±153
510–
204
BC
OSL
K 9
5120
0520
07te
rrac
otta
frag
men
tco
llect
ed fr
om lo
otin
g ho
le20
09/0
5Pa
beki
1150
±150
713–
1013
AD
TLM
AL
1009
320
0920
13po
tshe
rdun
it 3:
#14
320
06/1
6Po
lway
a23
08±1
4444
5–15
7 B
CO
SL3P
OL
2006
2007
terr
acot
ta fr
agm
ent
colle
cted
from
loot
ing
hole
2011
/07
Rug
a Fu
lani
1950
±100
36 B
C–1
64 A
DTL
MA
L 10
124
2013
2014
furn
ace
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e A20
11/0
7R
uga
Fula
ni16
50±1
0026
4–46
4 A
DTL
MA
L 10
125
2013
2014
furn
ace
frag
men
tfu
rnac
e B
2011
/66
Sabo
n Ja
nruw
a80
0±10
011
13–1
333
AD
TLM
AL
1009
420
1120
13fu
rnac
e fr
agm
ent
unit
1: #
441
2011
/67
Taka
Lafi
ya22
00±2
0038
7 B
C–1
3 A
DTL
MA
L 10
096
2011
2013
vess
el fr
agm
ent
# 36
31
Tabl
e 2a
. Lum
ines
cenc
e da
tes o
btai
ned
by th
e Fr
ankf
urt N
ok p
roje
ct (n
=27)
. Inf
orm
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
umbe
r & n
ame,
age
and
1-s
igm
a er
ror i
n ye
ars,
age
rang
e in
yea
rs B
C/A
D, m
etho
d us
ed (O
SL=o
ptic
ally
stim
ulat
ed lu
min
esce
nce,
TL=
ther
mol
umin
esce
nce)
, lab
orat
ory
num
ber,
year
sam
ple
was
col
lect
ed a
nd d
ated
(bas
e ye
ar fo
r cal
enda
r yea
r cal
cula
tion)
, dat
ed m
ater
ial,
and
cont
ext i
nfor
mat
ion
(“#”
giv
es th
e in
divi
dual
ly re
cord
ed fi
nd n
umbe
r, if
any)
.
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016282
Site
no.
Site
nam
eL
abor
ator
y no
.
Obj
ect
Env
iron
men
tD
e,ß (
fine-
grai
n pa
rtic
les)
[Gy]
a-va
lue
(Dβ/
Dα)
De,
ß (qu
artz
m
iner
als)
[Gy]
Age
in
year
sE
rror
in
year
sΔ
[%]
Th
[μg/
g]U
[μg/
g]K
[%]
Δ [%
]T
h [μ
g/g]
U [μ
g/g]
K [%
]
2013
/02
Bai
desu
ruM
AL
1012
313
17.7
± 0
.42.
9 ±
0.1
2.1
± 0.
0412
12.5
± 0
.43.
8 ±
0.1
1.3
± 0.
048.
9 ±
0.3
0.08
5.2
± 0.
617
5010
020
11/4
0D
aji G
wan
aM
AL
1009
03
6.6
± 0.
24.
1 ±
0.3
1.1
± 0.
21
13.4
± 0
.46.
3 ±
0.4
2.3
± 0.
316
.0 ±
1.5
0.1
10.5
± 1
.521
0025
020
13/1
4D
aji G
wan
a Fu
rnac
eM
AL
1012
615
15.5
± 0
.34.
3 ±
0.1
1.0
± 0.
0329
11.7
± 0
.23.
7 ±
0.2
1.4
± 0.
049.
0 ±
0.4
0.11
5.5
± 0.
519
0015
020
13/1
4D
aji G
wan
a Fu
rnac
eM
AL
1012
710
13.6
± 0
.33.
8 ±
0.2
1.3
± 0.
0416
11.0
± 0
.23.
6 ±
0.2
1.4
± 0.
048.
9 ±
0.6
0.12
5.2
± 0.
818
5015
020
13/1
4D
aji G
wan
a Fu
rnac
eM
AL
1012
814
12.8
± 0
.33.
7 ±
0.2
1.3
± 0.
0413
12.5
± 0
.44.
2 ±
0.2
1.3
± 0.
049.
6 ±
0.4
0.14
5.4
± 0.
417
5010
020
09/0
1Id
oM
AL
1009
12
6.4
± 0.
22.
4 ±
0.2
4.8
± 0.
46
6.8
± 0.
23.
8 ±
0.3
3.7
± 0.
35.
2 ±
0.4
0.14
4.0
± 1.
570
075
2010
/03
Intin
iM
AL
1009
51
27.6
± 0
.64.
9 ±
0.2
1.1
± 0.
13
6.83
± 0
.23.
2 ±
0.2
2.8
± 0.
213
.8 ±
0.7
0.08
11.5
± 0
.325
0020
020
13/1
5Ja
njal
a Fu
rnac
eM
AL
1012
98
16.3
± 0
.35.
3 ±
0.2
0.9
± 0.
0314
12.5
± 0
.46.
0 ±
0.2
0.9
± 0.
03n/
an/
a5.
3 ±
0.5
1650
150
2013
/15
Janj
ala
Furn
ace
MA
L 10
130
158.
3 ±
0.3
5.6
± 0.
21.
4 ±
0.04
169.
6 ±
0.3
4.8
± 0.
21.
3 ±
0.05
7.9
± 0.
50.
15.
3 ±
0.6
1700
150
2013
/15
Janj
ala
Furn
ace
MA
L 10
131
1110
.1 ±
0.3
4.5
± 0.
11.
0 ±
0.04
158.
3 ±
0.3
3.9
± 0.
21.
0 ±
0.05
5.7
± 1.
20.
13.
4 ±
0.7
1450
200
2013
/03
Kol
in K
uchi
mi
MA
L 10
132
1627
.0 ±
0.5
4.3
± 0.
21.
3 ±
0.05
2616
.9 ±
0.3
3.9
± 0.
21.
8 ±
0.07
10.5
± 0
.50.
185.
3 ±
0.44
1450
150
2009
/05
Pabe
kiM
AL
1009
32
34.8
± 0
.74.
5 ±
0.3
2.9
± 0.
2n/
an/
an/
an/
a10
.9 ±
0.2
0.1
8.8
± 1.
111
5015
020
11/0
7R
uga
Fula
niM
AL
1012
412
16.4
± 0
.33.
7 ±
0.1
1.4
± 0.
0411
13.2
± 0
.32.
4 ±
0.1
1.2
± 0.
047.
7 ±
0.5
0.09
5.4
± 0.
519
5015
020
11/0
7R
uga
Fula
niM
AL
1012
510
18.0
± 0
.43.
8 ±
0.1
1.2
± 0.
0411
14.8
± 0
.32.
8 ±
0.1
1.3
± 0.
048.
3 ±
0.8
0.15
5.4
± 0.
616
5010
020
11/6
6Sa
bon
Janr
uwa
MA
L 10
094
1.0
33.5
± 0
.75.
9 ±
0.3
1.1
± 0.
1n/
an/
an/
an/
a8.
2 ±
0.4
0.12
4.0
± 0.
180
010
020
11/6
7Ta
ka L
afiya
MA
L 10
096
215
.3 ±
0.3
4.1
± 0.
21.
7 ±
0.1
313
.0 ±
0.3
4.0
± 0.
23.
2 ±
0.2
14.2
± 1
.00.
0713
.0 ±
2.8
2200
200
2011
/70
Tudu
n D
osa
MA
L 10
092
2.0
8.0
± 0.
23.
1 ±
0.2
3.1
± 0.
25
8.2
± 0.
24.
1 ±
0.2
1.2
± 0.
16.
6 ±
0.3
0.11
6.6
± 0.
925
1050
Tabl
e 2b
. Val
ues o
f the
rmol
umin
esce
nce
mea
sure
men
ts o
n th
e ce
ram
ic o
bjec
ts a
nd th
e en
viro
nmen
tal s
ampl
es p
erfo
rmed
by
the
Kla
us-T
schi
ra-C
entre
in M
annh
eim
, Ger
man
y (M
AL)
.
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 283
Tabl
e 3
(con
tinue
d on
nex
t pag
e). S
ites i
nves
tigat
ed b
y th
e Fr
ankf
urt N
ok p
roje
ct fo
r whi
ch a
bsol
ute
date
s are
ava
ilabl
e (n
=69)
. Inf
orm
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
umbe
r & n
ame,
info
rmat
ion
on
exca
vatio
n, lo
catio
n an
d fin
ds, a
nd a
n ab
solu
te-c
hron
olog
ical
as w
ell a
s a p
otte
ry c
lass
ifica
tion.
Site
nam
e &
nu
mbe
rFo
rm a
nd si
ze o
f exc
avat
ion
Key
ar
eaFi
nds
Chr
onol
ogic
al c
lass
ifica
tion
Pott
ery
Cla
ssifi
catio
n
Aku
ra20
06/0
11
trenc
h (6
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
ls, e
xten
sive
te
stin
g (5
1m2 )
Yes
Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
(axe
), po
ttery
, sla
g,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts,
terr
acot
taM
iddl
e N
ok
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
/ Pan
dauk
e gr
oup
Gim
ba g
roup
Akw
aya
Daj
i20
06/0
9N
ot e
xcav
ated
, find
s col
lect
ed fr
om lo
otin
g ho
les
No
Potte
ry, s
tone
setti
ngs,
terr
acot
ta
Mid
dle
Nok
(bas
ed o
n O
SL o
f te
rrac
otta
frag
men
t)n/
a
Ank
oro
2011
/38
3 tre
nche
s (9
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsN
oB
urnt
cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rrac
otta
(o
nly
surf
ace
finds
)Ea
rly, M
iddl
e N
ok (b
ased
on
OSL
of s
urfa
ce te
rrac
otta
find
s)Pu
ntun
Dut
se g
roup
(in
exca
vatio
n un
its)
Ung
war
Kur
a gr
oup
(sur
face
col
lect
ion)
Anz
ah G
ida
2005
/03
Not
exc
avat
ed, fi
nds c
olle
cted
from
loot
ers
and
loot
ing
hole
sN
oPo
ttery
, ter
raco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
(bas
ed o
n O
SL o
f te
rrac
otta
frag
men
t)n/
a
Bai
desu
ru F
urna
ce
2013
/02
1 tre
nch
(22.
5 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Seve
n fu
rnac
es. C
harc
oal,
iron
obje
ct, p
otte
ry, s
lag,
st
one
arte
fact
s, tu
yère
frag
men
ts
Prob
ably
Nok
(bas
ed o
n 14
C
date
)Pa
ndau
ke g
roup
Cho
ribar
iki
2006
/02
5 tre
nche
s (20
5 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
No
Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
gPo
st-N
okG
imba
gro
up
Daj
i Gw
ana
2011
/40
1 tre
nch
(30
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
380
find
s)Ye
sA
lmos
t com
plet
e te
rrac
otta
. Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts,
terr
acot
taM
iddl
e N
okPu
ntun
Dut
se /
Ifan
a / T
saun
im G
urar
a gr
oup
Daj
i Gw
ana
Furn
ace
2013
/04
1 tre
nch
(29.
25 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Thre
e fu
rnac
es. C
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts,
terr
acot
ta, t
uyèr
e fr
agm
ents
Prob
ably
Nok
(bas
ed o
n 14
C
date
)n/
a
Dak
ko 1
2011
/41
2 tre
nche
s (18
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sB
urnt
cla
y, p
otte
ry, s
lag,
terr
acot
ta (i
ncl.
a do
uble
-hea
d-ed
terr
acot
ta fi
gure
)La
te N
okPa
ndau
ke g
roup
Dam
aisa
220
11/0
8N
ot e
xcav
ated
. Dat
ing
sam
ple
from
20
cm
dept
hYe
sSe
ven
to e
ight
furn
aces
. Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
Post
-Nok
n/a
Dam
ba20
12/1
81
trenc
h (3
0 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 2
900
finds
)Ye
sB
urnt
cla
y, c
harc
oal,
iron
obje
cts,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts
Post
-Nok
Ja
nruw
a gr
oup
Dog
on D
aji 1
2011
/42
2 tre
nche
s (18
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sC
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
lag,
terr
acot
ta, t
uyèr
e fr
agm
ents
Mid
dle
Nok
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
grou
p
Dog
uwa
120
10/0
13
trenc
hes (
66.5
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
790
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Terr
acot
ta h
ead
in tr
ench
1. B
urnt
cla
y, c
harc
oal,
iron
obje
ct, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
ct, p
otte
ry, t
erra
cotta
Ea
rly, M
iddl
e, P
ost-N
ok
Punt
un D
utse
(mos
tly u
nit 3
) / P
angw
ari
(uni
t 1) g
roup
Gim
ba g
roup
Dut
sen
Rem
a20
11/4
41
trenc
h (4
0 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 8
00 fi
nds)
Yes
Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
sPo
st-N
ok
Gim
ba g
roup
Gid
an D
anaz
umi
2010
/02
1 tre
nch
(51
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
600
find
s)Ye
sB
urnt
cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rrac
otta
M
iddl
e N
okTs
auni
m G
urar
a gr
oup
Gim
ba20
11/4
61
trenc
h (4
0 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 1
400
finds
)Ye
sC
harc
oal,
iron
obje
cts,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts
Post
-Nok
G
imba
gro
up
Gon
a K
ishi
mi
2011
/47
1 tre
nch
(16
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sPo
ttery
Post
-Nok
G
imba
gro
up
Idda
h 3
2005
/01
3 tre
nche
s (9
m2 t
otal
) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsN
oC
harc
oal,
potte
ry, t
erra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okPa
ngw
ari g
roup
(spe
cial
ves
sels
)
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016284
Site
nam
e &
num
ber
Form
and
size
of e
xcav
atio
nK
ey
area
Find
s C
hron
olog
ical
cla
ssifi
catio
nPo
tter
y C
lass
ifica
tion
Ido
2009
/01
1 tre
nch
(130
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
110
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Bone
frag
men
ts, b
urnt
clay
, cha
rcoa
l, m
etal
obj
ects,
pot
tery
, sla
g,
stone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta, t
uyèr
e fra
gmen
tsEa
rly, M
iddl
e, P
ost-N
okPu
ntun
Dut
se /
Ido
grou
pG
imba
gro
up
Ifan
a20
11/4
82
trenc
hes (
89 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 1
500
finds
)Ye
sSi
x te
rraco
tta fi
gure
s in
IFA
1. B
urnt
clay
, cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sto
ne
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Ifan
a / P
angw
ari g
roup
Intin
i20
10/0
36
trenc
hes (
75 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 1
400
finds
)Ye
sTw
o fur
nace
s. Bu
rnt c
lay,
char
coal
, iro
n obj
ect,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts,
terra
cotta
, tuy
ère
fragm
ents
Mid
dle
Nok
Ts
auni
m G
urar
a / P
anda
uke
grou
p
Janj
ala A
2006
/03
10 te
st p
its (c
a. 3
0 m
2 )Ye
sCo
mpl
ete
terra
cotta
. Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Pand
auke
gro
up
Janj
ala
Furn
ace
2013
/05
1 tre
nch
(25
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sTh
ree
furn
aces
. Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, sla
g, te
rraco
tta f
ragm
ent,
tuyè
re fr
agm
ent
Prob
ably
Nok
(bas
ed o
n 14C
date
)G
imba
gro
up
Janr
uwa A
2006
/04
6 te
st p
its (c
a. 2
0 m
2 ), ex
tens
ive
test
ing
(ca.
30
m2 )
Yes
Feat
ures
with
terra
cotta
, pot
tery
, sto
ne b
eads
. Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sto
ne a
rtefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okPa
ngw
ari /
Tsa
unim
Gur
ara
grou
p
Janr
uwa
B20
09/0
21
trenc
h (1
20 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 5
00 fi
nds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, ch
arco
al, i
ron o
bjec
t, po
ttery
, sto
ne ar
tefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
eTs
auni
m G
urar
a gr
oup
Janr
uwa
grou
p
Janr
uwa
C20
10/0
41
trenc
h (9
6 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 1
2,00
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
iron
obje
cts,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts
Post
-Nok
Ja
nruw
a gr
oup
Janr
uwa
E20
11/5
0Te
st p
it (6
m2 )
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts.
Exca
vatio
n to
ch
eck
a ge
omag
netic
ano
mal
yPo
st-N
okJa
nruw
a gr
oup
Joh
Mar
i20
06/0
51
trenc
h (1
.5 m
2 )N
oTw
o fu
rnac
es. B
urnt
cla
y, c
harc
oal,
iron
piec
es, s
lag
Late
Nok
n/
a
Kac
ham
a 1
2009
/03
1 tre
nch
(60
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
400
find
s), t
est p
its (5
m2 )
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Kac
ham
a 2
2009
/04
4 tre
nche
s (11
4 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 9
50 fi
nds)
, tes
t pits
(9 m
2 )Ye
sBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
s, po
ttery
, sla
g, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Early
, Mid
dle
Nok
Punt
un D
utse
/ Id
o /P
angw
ari g
roup
Kag
uni 1
2011
/24
Not
exc
avat
ed, fi
nds
colle
cted
fr
om lo
otin
g ho
les
Yes
Potte
ry, t
erra
cotta
Late
Nok
n/a
Kag
uni 2
2012
/01
Not
exc
avat
ed, fi
nds
colle
cted
fr
om lo
otin
g ho
les
Yes
Potte
ry, t
erra
cotta
Mid
dle
Nok
n/a
Kan
gale
2011
/52
3 tre
nche
s (2
2 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Char
coal
, iro
n ob
ject
, pot
tery
, sla
gM
iddl
e, P
ost-N
ok (t
renc
h 2)
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
grou
pG
imba
gro
up
Kas
angw
ai 2
2011
/53
1 tre
nch
(72
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
150
0 fin
ds)
No
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Kol
in K
uchi
mi F
urna
ce20
13/0
32
trenc
hes
(25
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sTh
ree
furn
aces
. Cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, tu
yère
frag
men
tsPr
obab
ly N
ok (b
ased
on 14
C da
te)
n/a
Kud
u 3
2011
/55
1 tre
nch
(15
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sCh
arco
al, p
otte
ryM
iddl
e N
okPu
ntun
Dut
se g
roup
(on
e sh
erd)
/
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
grou
p
Tabl
e 3
(con
tinue
d on
nex
t pag
e). S
ites i
nves
tigat
ed b
y th
e Fr
ankf
urt N
ok p
roje
ct fo
r whi
ch a
bsol
ute
date
s are
ava
ilabl
e (n
=69)
. Inf
orm
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
umbe
r & n
ame,
info
rmat
ion
on
exca
vatio
n, lo
catio
n an
d fin
ds, a
nd a
n ab
solu
te-c
hron
olog
ical
as w
ell a
s a p
otte
ry c
lass
ifica
tion.
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 285
Site
nam
e & n
umbe
rFo
rm a
nd si
ze o
f exc
avat
ion
Key
ar
eaFi
nds
Chr
onol
ogic
al c
lass
ifica
tion
Pott
ery
Cla
ssifi
catio
n
Kuf
ai G
war
i 220
11/0
61
trenc
h (6
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
sM
iddl
e N
okn/
a
Kuf
ai K
uku
220
11/5
71
trenc
h (1
6 m
2 ) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, ter
raco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Kur
min
Lem
u20
05/1
5N
ot e
xcav
ated
, fin
ds c
olle
cted
fr
om lo
otin
g ho
les
No
Potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
ttaM
iddl
e to
Lat
e N
ok (b
ased
on
OSL
of t
erra
cotta
frag
men
t)n/
a
Kur
min
Uw
a 1
2010
/05
1 tre
nch
(60
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
22
00 fi
nds)
Yes
Bur
nt c
lay,
bon
e fr
agm
ents
, cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
, po
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Punt
un D
utse
gro
up (o
ne sh
erd)
/ Pa
ndau
ke g
roup
Gim
ba g
roup
Kur
min
Uw
a 2
2010
/06
3 tre
nche
s (89
m2 t
otal
), to
tal s
ta-
tion
(ca.
650
find
s)Ye
sBu
rnt c
lay,
char
coal
, pot
tery
, sto
ne ar
tefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e, P
ost-N
okPa
ngw
ari g
roup
Janr
uwa
/ Gim
ba g
roup
Kus
he 3
2010
/07
1 tre
nch
(2 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
No
Char
coal
, pot
tery
, sto
ne a
rtefa
cts
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Kus
he 7
2010
/08
1 tr
ench
(7.
5 m
2 ) i
n ar
bitr
ary
leve
lsN
oCh
arco
al, p
otte
ry, te
rraco
tta (i
nclu
ding
com
plet
e hea
d)M
iddl
e N
okPa
ngw
ari g
roup
Kus
uma
2010
/09
2 tre
nche
s (62
m2 t
otal
), to
tal s
ta-
tion
(ca.
120
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, ch
arco
al, p
otte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
(incl
udin
g sm
all h
ead)
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Mas
hiki
n D
ando
ka
2011
/59
1 tre
nch
(ca.
95
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
100
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, ch
arco
al, i
ron
obje
cts,
potte
ry, s
lag,
ston
e ar
tefa
cts
Post
-Nok
Po
ssib
ly P
untu
n D
utse
gro
up (t
wo
sher
ds)
Gim
ba g
roup
Mas
hiki
n K
adun
2011
/60
2 tre
nche
s (2
2 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, ch
arco
al, p
otte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Early
to M
iddl
e N
okPu
ntun
Dut
se g
roup
(MK
_2) /
Tsa
unim
Gur
ara g
roup
(M
K_1
)
Pabe
ki20
09/0
53
trenc
hes (
280
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
500
find
s)Ye
sBu
rnt c
lay,
char
coal
, pot
tery
, sto
ne ar
tefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okPa
ngw
ari g
roup
Gim
ba g
roup
Pand
auke
2009
/06
1 tre
nch
(44
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
50
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta, t
uyèr
e fra
gmen
tsM
iddl
e N
okPa
ndau
ke g
roup
Pang
war
i20
12/3
4 10
tren
ches
(268
1 m
2 tot
al),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
12,
000
finds
). Ex
cava
-tio
n 20
12-2
014
Yes
Terra
cotta
dep
osits
. Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
, po
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Early
, Mid
dle,
Pos
t-Nok
Punt
un D
utse
/ If
ana
/ Pan
gwar
i gro
upG
imba
gro
up
Pant
aki 1
2010
/11
5 tre
nche
s, 1
test
pit
(64
m2 )
in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
, pot
tery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Early
Nok
(bas
ed o
n 14
C d
ate)
Pang
war
i gro
up
Pant
aki 3
2010
/12
2 tre
nche
s (18
m2 )
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, ch
arco
al, p
otte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
fragm
ent
Early
Nok
Pu
ntun
Dut
se g
roup
Polw
aya
2006
/16
Not
exc
avat
ed,
finds
col
lect
ed
from
loot
ing
hole
sN
oPo
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta fr
agm
ents
Mid
dle
to L
ate
Nok
(bas
ed o
n O
SL o
f ter
raco
tta fr
agm
ent)
n/a
Pulu
2011
/62
2 tre
nche
s (3
.5 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 6
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Two
furn
aces
. Bur
nt cl
ay, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry (n
ot d
eco-
rate
d), s
lag,
tuyè
re fr
agm
ents
Mid
dle
Nok
n/
a
Punt
un D
utse
20
11/6
34
trenc
hes
(22.
5 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
; 1 tr
ench
(16
m2 ),
tota
l sta
-tio
n (c
a. 2
000
finds
)
Yes
Burn
t dau
b (w
ith w
attle
impr
essio
ns),
char
coal
, pot
-te
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta (v
ery
few
)Ea
rly, M
iddl
e N
ok
Punt
un D
utse
/ Id
o gr
oup
Janr
uwa
grou
p (o
ne sh
erd)
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016286
Site
nam
e &
num
ber
Form
and
size
of e
xcav
atio
nK
ey
area
Find
s C
hron
olog
ical
clas
sifica
tion
Pott
ery
Cla
ssifi
catio
n
Rafi
n A
butu
2011
/64
1 tr
ench
(18
m2 )
in
arbi
trar
y le
vels
Yes
Char
coal
, pot
tery
, sto
ne a
rtefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okPa
ndau
ke g
roup
Rafi
n A
dada
20
12/0
41
trenc
h (6
m2 )
in ar
bitra
ry le
vels
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
ttaM
iddl
e N
ok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Rafi
n D
ako
2012
/19
1 tre
nch
(4 m
2 ) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
pot
tery
, sla
gPo
st-N
okJa
nruw
a gr
oup
Rafi
n Pa
h 1
2011
/65
2 tre
nche
s (1
8 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Char
coal
, pot
tery
, sto
ne a
rtefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okPa
ngw
ari g
roup
Rafi
n Pa
h 2
2012
/26
2 tre
nche
s (1
0 m
2 ) in
arb
itrar
y le
vels
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
sEa
rly N
ok
n/a
Rug
a Fu
lani
Fur
nace
2011
/07
1 tr
ench
(28
m2 )
in
arbi
trar
y le
vels
, exc
avat
ion
2013
Yes
Two
furn
aces
. Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, sla
g, s
tone
arte
fact
s, tu
yère
frag
men
tsPr
obab
ly N
ok (
base
d on
14
C d
ate)
n/a
Sabo
n Ja
nruw
a20
11/6
62
trenc
hes (
123
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
100
0 fin
ds)
Yes
One
fur
nace
. Bur
nt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, sla
g, s
tone
ar
tefa
cts,
terra
cotta
, tuy
ère
fragm
ents
Mid
dle
Nok
Pang
war
i gro
up
Taka
Lafi
ya
2011
/67
1 tre
nch
(ca.
80
m2 ),
tota
l sta
tion
(ca.
350
0 fin
ds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
ttaEa
rly, M
iddl
e N
okPu
ntun
Dut
se /
Ido
grou
p If
ana
/ Pan
gwar
i gro
upG
imba
gro
up
Tsau
nim
Bak
ka 1
2010
/13
1 tre
nch
(9 m
2 ) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
char
coal
, pot
tery
, sla
g, st
one a
rtefa
cts,
terra
cotta
Mid
dle
Nok
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
grou
p
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
120
11/6
82
trenc
hes
(29
m2 )
in a
rbitr
ary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
char
coal
, pot
tery
, sla
g, st
one a
rtefa
cts,
terra
cotta
M
iddl
e N
okTs
auni
m G
urar
a gr
oup
Tsau
nim
Mag
anda
2011
/69
1 tre
nch
(9 m
2 ) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, po
ttery
, ter
raco
tta (s
urfa
ce fi
nd)
Early
Nok
Punt
un D
utse
Gro
up
Tudu
n D
osa
2011
/70
2 tre
nche
s (5
1 m
2 ), to
tal s
tatio
n (c
a. 6
00 fi
nds)
Yes
Burn
t cla
y, c
harc
oal,
iron
obje
cts,
potte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
ttaM
iddl
ePu
ntun
Dut
se g
roup
(one
sher
d) /
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara g
roup
Gim
ba g
roup
Tudu
n K
aura
2011
/04
1 tre
nch
(6 m
2 ) in
arbi
trary
leve
lsYe
sD
ense
dist
ribut
ion
of m
icro
lithi
c qu
artz
arte
fact
sn/
a, p
ossib
ly L
ater
Sto
ne A
gen/
a
Ung
war
Kur
a20
07/0
116
tren
ches
(46
0 m
2 ), to
tal s
ta-
tion
reco
rdin
g (c
a. 6
200
finds
)N
oBu
rnt c
lay,
cha
rcoa
l, iro
n ob
ject
s, po
ttery
, sla
g, st
one
arte
-fa
cts,
terra
cotta
(not
all
trenc
hes c
onta
ined
find
s)M
iddl
e, L
ate
Nok
Pang
war
i / T
saun
im G
urar
a / P
anda
uke
/ Ung
war
Kur
a gr
oup
Post
-Nok
(one
sher
d)
Uta
k K
amua
n G
araj
e K
agor
o20
08/0
5
2008
: 4 tr
ench
es (c
a. 3
5 m
2 )20
11: 3
tren
ches
(87
m2 ),
tota
l st
atio
n (c
a. 5
00 fi
nds)
No
2008
: sev
eral
depo
sits c
onta
inin
g cha
rcoa
l, sto
nes a
nd la
rge
terra
cotta
frag
men
ts in
oth
erw
ise st
erile
soil
2011
: Bur
nt cl
ay, c
harc
oal, p
otte
ry, s
tone
arte
fact
s, te
rraco
tta
Mid
dle
Nok
Tsau
nim
Gur
ara
grou
pG
imba
gro
up
Tabl
e 3
(end
). Si
tes i
nves
tigat
ed b
y th
e Fr
ankf
urt N
ok p
roje
ct fo
r whi
ch a
bsol
ute
date
s are
ava
ilabl
e (n
=69)
. Inf
orm
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
umbe
r & n
ame,
info
rmat
ion
on e
xcav
atio
n, lo
catio
n an
d fin
ds, a
nd a
n ab
solu
te-c
hron
olog
ical
as w
ell a
s a p
otte
ry c
lass
ifica
tion.
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 287
Site
Lab
orat
ory
no.
14C
age
in
year
s bp
Unc
alib
rate
d ag
e in
cal
enda
r ye
ars
Cal
ibra
ted
age
(BC
/AD
) w
ith 9
5.4%
pro
babi
lity
Con
text
info
rmat
ion
and
cita
tion
Nok
I 145
810
65±1
20 b
p88
5 A
D ±
120
690–
1207
AD
party
car
boni
sed
poun
ding
stic
k, n
o cl
ear r
elat
ion
to N
ok C
ultu
re (F
agg
1965
a)N
okY-
474
1750
±50
bp20
0 A
D ±
50
138–
394
AD
Nok
G (w
ood
from
bla
ck c
lay,
195
6) (B
aren
dsen
et a
l. 19
57)
Nok
Y-14
2-4
2875
±70
bp92
5 B
C ±
70
1262
–856
BC
Nok
D (w
ood
from
sand
ove
rlyin
g ba
sal g
rave
l, 19
51) (
Bar
ends
en e
t al.
1957
)N
okY-
475
4060
±140
bp
2110
BC
± 1
4029
26–2
153
BC
Nok
H (c
arbo
nise
d w
ood
from
sand
and
gra
vel a
t figu
rine
horiz
on, 1
956)
(B
aren
dsen
et a
l. 19
57)
Nok
Y-14
2-3
5490
±85
bp35
40 B
C ±
85
4509
–406
6 B
CN
ok C
(woo
d fr
om b
asal
tin-
bear
ing
grav
el, a
t mai
n fig
urin
e ho
rizon
, 195
1) (B
aren
dsen
et a
l. 19
57)
Nok
Y-14
2-3‘
5660
±90
bp37
10 B
C ±
90
4701
–434
6 B
CN
ok C
(sam
e sp
ecim
en a
s Y-1
42-3
, sen
t sep
arat
ely)
(Bar
ends
en e
t al.
1957
)N
okY-
142-
8>
39,0
00 y
ears
n/a
n/a
Nok
E (c
arbo
nize
d w
ood
from
old
est a
lluvi
um, a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith A
cheu
lian
arte
fact
s, 19
51) (
Bare
ndse
n et
al.
1957
)Ta
ruga
BM
939
222±
40 b
p17
28 A
D ±
40
1524
–195
5 A
DFu
rnac
e 12
(cha
rcoa
l, Sa
mpl
e K
14a2
, K14
a3) (
Bur
leig
h et
al.
1977
)Ta
ruga
BM
532
2042
±126
bp
92 B
C ±
126
377
BC
–219
AD
Furn
ace
4 (c
harc
oal f
rom
with
in a
nd b
elow
slag
hor
izon
, TA
3, sa
mpl
e 3)
(Bur
leig
h et
al.
1977
)Ta
ruga
BM
534
2121
±116
bp
171
BC
± 1
1640
2 B
C–1
21 A
DSq
015
a3, L
ayer
3, N
W q
uarte
r, -9
0 to
-107
cm
(TA
2, S
ampl
e 9,
cha
rcoa
l) (B
urle
igh
et a
l. 19
77)
Taru
gaI-
1459
2230
±120
bp
280
BC
± 1
2074
8 B
C–2
3 A
DTA
Lf 1
961
(Lay
er 3
, 40
cm, c
harc
oal)
(Fag
g 19
65b)
Taru
gaI-
3400
2250
±100
bp
300
BC
± 1
0074
1–41
BC
TA 3
196
7/68
(Fur
nace
2, c
harc
oal f
rom
bel
ow sl
ag la
yer)
(Fag
g 19
69)
Taru
gaB
M 5
3322
69±1
43 b
p31
9 B
C ±
143
771–
2 B
CTA
2 1
965/
66 (S
q 01
5a3,
laye
r 3, c
harc
oal,
NW
qua
rter,
-55
to -9
0 cm
) (B
urle
igh
et a
l. 19
77)
Taru
gaB
M 9
4222
91±1
33 b
p34
1 B
C ±
133
767–
55 B
CFu
rnac
e 4
(see
BM
532
, cha
rcoa
l) (B
urle
igh
et a
l. 19
77)
Taru
gaI-
2960
2390
±140
bp
440
BC
± 1
4081
8–16
6 B
CTA
2 1
965/
66 (S
q 01
5a3,
cha
rcoa
l, 64
cm
, bel
ow I-
1459
, ass
ocia
ted
with
slag
) (Fa
gg 1
968)
Taru
gaB
M 9
4024
88±8
4 bp
538
BC
± 8
479
3–41
1 B
CFu
rnac
e 7
(Sam
ple
K13
a1, c
harc
oal)
(Bur
leig
h et
al.
1977
)Ta
ruga
BM
938
2541
±74
bp59
1 B
C ±
74
814–
428
BC
Furn
ace
1 (S
ampl
e J1
3d1,
cha
rcoa
l) (B
urle
igh
et a
l. 19
77)
Taru
gaB
M 9
4125
41±1
04 b
p59
1 B
C ±
104
894–
402
BC
Loto
D (S
ampl
e N
15d4
, cha
rcoa
l) (B
urle
igh
et a
l. 19
77)
Sam
un D
ukiy
aI-
4913
2160
±95
bp21
0 B
C ±
95
399
BC
–17
AD
Tren
ch H
.11.
d.4
(cha
rcoa
l fro
m lo
wer
par
t of o
ccup
atio
n ho
rizon
) (Fa
gg A
. 197
2)Sa
mun
Duk
iya
I-49
1434
70±1
15 b
p15
20 B
C ±
115
2130
–150
6 B
CTr
ench
H.1
1.d.
4 (c
harc
oal f
rom
bas
al d
epos
it) (F
agg
A. 1
972)
Kat
sina
Ala
BM
535
384±
45 b
p15
66 A
D ±
45
1439
–163
5 A
DC
harc
oal f
rom
a la
rge
mas
s of c
harc
oal i
n N
ok c
ultu
re o
ccup
atio
n la
yer (
Bur
leig
h et
al.
1977
)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
568
2335
±40
bp53
9–23
5 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10j (
Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
829
2340
±120
bp
792–
167
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
q (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
148
823
45±8
0 bp
757–
206
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
u (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
161
623
55±4
0 bp
729–
364
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
i (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
149
524
15±4
0 bp
751–
399
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
s (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
163
024
20±1
20 b
p80
7–21
0 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10o
(Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
558
2430
±40
bp75
3–40
4 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10l (
Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
830
2445
±50
bp75
8–40
8 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10g
(Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
AA
4122
124
68±4
0 bp
767–
430
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
t (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
183
124
90±3
0 bp
781–
511
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
n (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
162
125
00±4
0 bp
793–
486
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
p (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nA
A41
222
2551
±41
bp80
4–54
2 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10h
(Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
496
2605
±80
bp93
0–43
4 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10m
(Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
828
2625
±40
bp89
3–76
6 B
Cch
arco
al fr
om in
terio
r of
Fig
10v
(Bou
llie
r et
al.
2002
/200
3)U
nkno
wn
Pa 1
627
2635
±100
bp
1014
–431
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
r (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
182
626
90±4
0 bp
912–
799
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
k (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Unk
now
nPa
182
727
00±4
0 bp
921–
801
BC
char
coal
from
inte
rior o
f Fi
g 10
w (B
oull
ier
et a
l. 20
02/2
003)
Tabl
e 4.
Rad
ioca
rbon
dat
es fr
om N
ok, T
arug
a, S
amun
Duk
iya,
Kat
sina
Ala
, and
from
terr
acot
ta fi
gure
s exa
min
ed b
y C
. Bou
llier
. Inf
orm
atio
n in
clud
es si
te n
ame,
labo
rato
ry n
umbe
r, co
nven
-tio
nal 14
C a
ge in
yea
rs b
p, u
ncal
ibra
ted
age
in c
alen
dar y
ears
(usi
ng 1
950
as b
ase
year
), ca
libra
ted
age
(BC
/AD
) with
2-s
igm
a pr
obab
ility
(OxC
al 4
.2, I
ntC
al13
), an
d co
ntex
t inf
orm
atio
n an
d ci
tatio
n fo
r the
dat
ed sa
mpl
e.
G. Franke
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016288
Site Sample no.
Age in years
Base year
Age range in calendar years BC/AD
Remarks
Nok 187.c 2530 ± 210 1975 555 BC ± 210 A: figure fragment 187f (Fagg 1990: 139)Jemaa 187.a 2095 ± 180 1975 120 BC ± 180 M: head (Fagg 1990: 120)Jemaa 187.m 2360 ± 210 1975 385 BC ± 210 E: head (formerly from Maitumbi)Jemaa (1) n/a 2480 ± 220 1970 510 BC ± 220 B: Jemaa head, found 1944 (Fagg 1990: 110), first measurementJemaa (2) n/a 2570 ± 230 1970 600 BC ± 230 B: Jemaa head, found 1944 (Fagg 1990: 110), second measurementTaruga 187.o 2215 ± 170 1975 240 BC ± 170 L: arm fragment from excavation (Fagg 1990: 145)Taruga 187.p 2240 ± 185 1975 265 BC ± 185 K: head, from river bed near excavation (Fagg 1990: 145)Taruga 187.Jb 2325 ± 255 1970 355 BC ± 255 G: pottery “grater” from excavationKatsina Ala 187.rl 365 ± 23 1975 1610 AD ± 23 potsherd from 1963 excavationKatsina Ala 187.d 2375 ± 125 1975 400 BC ± 125 C: leg fragment, found 1954Kagara Hill 187.h 2095 ± 190 1975 120 BC ± 190 N: head (Fagg 1990: 150)Kawu 187.k 2335 ± 205 1975 360 BC ± 205 F: head (Fagg 1990: 143)Kuchamfa 187.g 1970 ± 170 1975 5 AD ± 170 Q: fragment of large cylindrical figure (Fagg 1990: 90)Tudun Wada 187.b 2295 ± 190 1975 320 BC ± 190 H: head from a pit (Fagg 1990: 113)Unknown n/a 2460 ± 220 1970 490 BC ± 220 D: complete figure, context unknown (Fagg 1990: 151)Unknown n/a 2025 ± 185 1975 50 BC ± 185 P: female head and body (private collection)Ankiring 187.e 1720 ± 140 1975 255 AD ± 140 R: coarse potsherd (found with figurines, see Fagg 1990: 139)Ankiring 187.f 1580 ± 140 1975 395 AD ± 140 S: figure fragment (found with figurines , see Fagg 1990: 139)Chado n/a 1860 ± 160 1975 115 AD ± 160 V: female figure, sitting on a pot (Fagg 1990: 129)Chado n/a 1605 ± 180 1975 370 AD ± 180 T: head N 840.1 (first measurement, see Fagg 1990: 124)Chado n/a 1520 ± 130 n/a 450 AD ± 130 W: potsherds (from find context)Chado n/a 1505 ± 140 1975 470 AD ± 140 U: “initiation figure”Chado 187.n 1410 ± 135 1975 565 AD ± 135 T1: head N 840.1 (second measurement)Chado 187.x 1425 ± 130 1975 550 AD ± 130 X: associated potsherds and figuresChado n/a 1410 ± 135 n/a 570 AD ± 135 Y: potsherds (from find context)
Table 5. Thermoluminescence dates obtained by A. Fagg, B. Fagg, and J. Jemkur. Information includes site name, sample number, age and 1-sigma error in years, age range in years BC/AD with base year of calculation, and remarks (including the photo reference in Fagg 1990). The dates are taken from Jemkur 2014 and include the amendments made by A. Fagg, as mentioned in the text.
A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture
Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 289
SiteSample no.
Luminescence age range BC/AD
Calibrated 14C age range BC/AD
Comment
Akura5A72 1064–720 BC 728–365 BC
Dates overlap between 728 and 720 BC. Pottery, however, suggests a younger age. Since samples come from different excavation units, the dates also may indicate a longer occupation of the site.
Ankoro1ANK, 2ANK
758–438 BC518–248 BC
1530–1316 BC1112–924 BC
Terracotta fragments were collected in 2006 from the slope of a hill. The OSL dates overlap between 518 and 438 BC. Excavation took place in 201 on top of the hill. 14C dates fit the pottery from the excavation. There, no terracotta was found. Dates probably reflect different occupation episodes.
Daji Gwana MAL 1009 337 BC–163 AD
901–796 BC797–543 BC781–511 BC
TL date is at least 200 years younger than 14C dates. Either the TL date is erroneous or the terracotta reflects a later occupation episode.
IddahK959 860–488 BC 796–423 BC Samples come from the same excavation unit and match in age.
Taka Lafiya MAL 10096 387 BC–13 AD
1107–927 BC916–815 BC895–797 BC798–549 BC
TL date on an anthropomorph vessel is at least 200 years younger than 14C dates. Vessel was found in a depth of almost 3 m. 14C dates could indicate a longer occupation phase, which is confirmed by pottery classification. Either the TL date is erroneous or the terracotta reflects a later occupation episode.
SiteSample no.
Luminescence age range BC/AD
Calibrated 14C age range BC/AD
Comment
BaidesuruMAL 10123 164–364 AD 799–556 BC
395–209 BCTL date is younger than 14C date. The few potsherds excavated could be Nok, but are too small for secure identification.
Daji Gwana FurnaceMAL 10126-28
36 BC–264 AD36 BC–264 AD
164–364 AD
787–542 BC54–218 AD
TL dates of three furnaces overlap in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, matching one 14C date. Other 14C date falls in the Nok period. One terracotta fragment was excavated; some small potsherds may be Nok.
Intini MAL 10095 687–287 BC 736–404 BC
703–398 BCTL and 14C dates. Pottery classification puts the site towards the younger end, in the 5th century BC.
Janjala FurnaceMAL 10129-31
164–464 AD214–514 AD414–714 AD
353–93 BC889–994 AD
TL dates of three furnaces overlap. 14C dates vary extremely; neither matches the TL dates. While terracotta fragments were found in two furnaces, the potsherds are similar to pottery inventories in the Common Era.
Kolin Kuchimi MAL 10132 364–664 AD 749–412 BC Dates do not match. No pottery was found.
Ruga FulaniMAL 10124/25
36 BC–164 AD264–464 AD
803–555 BC731–408 BC
While 14C samples date to the Nok period, TL dates are younger, not overlapping. No pottery was found.
Sabon JanruwaMAL 10094 1113–1333 AD 753–412 BC TL date is much younger than the Nok-period 14C date, younger than the
other TL dates as well. TL sample was taken from a depth of only 20 cm.
Table 6. Comparison of luminescence dates for terracotta figurines and radiocarbon dates for the respective sites. Information includes site name and sample number, luminescence and radiocarbon age ranges in calendar years (BC/AD), and comments.
Table 7. Comparison of luminescence dates for furnaces and radiocarbon dates for the respective sites. Information includes site name and sample number, luminescence and radiocarbon age ranges in calendar years (BC/AD), and comments.