A Preliminary Study of Human Ecology of Pre-Benin State Edo

The Benin Bronzes became an international topic owing to the British Punitive Expedition of 1897 which truncated the growing socio-political system of the Benin.​

Research question:

1. What role did ecological and social systems play in the formation of the Benin state?
2. What is the archaeology of Benin?
3. What relationship exists between the different moats and the Benin 'State'?

Previous and current research have focused on and around Benin Center (see Connah 1975, Darling 1984, and  MOWAA .

However, with these obvious relics of the Benin State, little is known of its early formation processes. There is lack of information on the pre-Benin state period, especially regarding peripheral entities like Udo and Okomu.​

How does Okomu and Udo connects with the Benin Moat and why should they be studied?

Udo host one of the most complete Moat that is not connected to the central Benin Moats and oral tradition pity Udo against Benin in a war for supremacy

Okomu is a few miles from Udo with evidence of human occupation, preserved landscape owing to the National Park

Archaeological Survey, Archaeological Excavation, Palynological Analysis, Geochemistry, and Particle Size Analysis

The archaeological data suggest the presence of humans in the ONP at least between the 12th and 14th century CE.

The excavations in the test pit revealed three distinct stratigraphic layers. The deepest layer (60–40 cm) was devoid of artefacts. The second layer (40–20 cm) records potsherds, charred palm kernels (Elaeis guineensis) and the cranial bone of catfish (Clarias sp.) The third stratigraphic layer (20–0 cm) did not have any material culture.

The abandonment event has been attributed to at least three possible factors, namely (1) climate change; (2) epidemic; and/or (3) the war between Benin and Udo.

There are reports of the occurrence of a dry climate in West Africa during the 14th–16th centuries CE (Lézine et al. 2019; Logan and Stahl 2017) that had significant demographic impact in the region.

What are the identified 'industries' in the study area? What does the landscapes look like?

Petrographic Analysis, Environmental reconstruction, further archaeological research, extensive dating.....

University of Michigan Museum of West Africa Art (UMMAA), UM International Institute, UM Africa Studies Center, Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research, Rackham Public Scholarship Grant, Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA).

REFERENCES 

Connah, Graham. (1975). The archaeology of Benin : excavations and other researches in and around Benin City, Nigeria. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Darling, P. J. (1984). Archaeology and history in Southern Nigeria : the ancient linear earthworks of Benin and Ishan. Cambridge monographs in African archaeology ; 11. Oxford: B.A.R.

Jones, E. W. (1955). Ecological Studies on the Rain Forest of Southern Nigeria: IV. The Plateau Forest of the Okomu Forest Reserve. The Journal of ecology. Cambridge University Press. 

Jones, E. W. (1956). Ecological Studies on the Rain Forest of Southern Nigeria: IV (Continued). The Plateau Forest of the Okomu Forest Reserve. The Journal of ecology. Blackwell Scientific Publications. 

Orijemie E A (2021) The Ecological Significance of Ground-stone axes in the Later Stone Age (LSA) of West-Central Africa  In: Pedersen P et al. (Eds) Ground Stone and Past Foodways. Oxford: Archaeopress, 99-115  

Orijemie, Emuobosa; Ayelagbe, Timilehin; Diya, Ayobami; Ibirogba, Abiola; and Olaleye, Emmanuel (2023). Paleoenvironmental change and human activity at okomu national park, Nigeria. PAGES MAGAZINE ∙ VOLUME 31 

Plankensteiner, B. (2007). Benin--Kings and Rituals: court arts from Nigeria. African Arts, 40(4) 

White, Lee. J. T.; Oates, John. F. (1999). New data on the history of the plateau forest of Okomu, southern Nigeria: an insight into how human disturbance has shaped the African rain forest. Global ecology and biogeography. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science Ltd. 

University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology,  3010 School of Education Building610 E. University AvenueAnn Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259  Email: tayelagbe@umich.edu