Pearl millet and iron in the West African Sahel: Archaeobotanical investigation at Tongo Maaré Diabal, Mali. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Champion, L.; Gestrich, N.; MacDonald, K.; Nieblas-Ramirez, L.; Fuller, D.Q.
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 39(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Inland Niger Delta -- Urbanisation -- Pennisetum glaucum -- Craft production -- Cash crops; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Highlights: Inhabitants at the site of TMD (c. 500–1150) relied almost exclusively on pearl millet as a staple crop, though other cultigens were well established in the region. Exclusive pearl millet cultivation may be part of a pattern of regional subsistence specialisation with roots in the Late Stone Age. Abstract: Recent archaeobotanical analysis revealed that the botanical remains from the site of Tongo Maaré Diabal (Mali) are composed primarily of pearl millet remains (up to 85%). Contemporaneous West African sites (500–1200 Cal AD) usually display more diverse patterns, especially by the end of this period. Indeed, contemporary urban sites of the West African Sahel often comprise combined and diversified farming systems of millet ( Pennisetum glaucum ), African rice ( Oryza glaberrima ), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), Echinochloa sp. and fonio ( Digitatia exilis ). This article seeks to explain the near-exclusive focus of Tongo Maaré Diabal's agricultural economy on millet, particularly with regard to the site's status as a settlement of iron workers.