The emergence of pottery in Africa during the tenth millennium cal BC: new evidence from Ounjougou (Mali)

• Published in: Antiquity Vol. 83; no. 322; pp. 905 - 917
• Main Authors: Huysecom, E., Rasse, M., Lespez, L., Neumann, K., Fahmy, A., Ballouche, A., Ozainne, S., Maggetti, M., Tribolo, Ch, Soriano, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-12-2009; Portland Press
• Subjects: Africa; Analysis; Ancient pottery; Archaeology; bifacial arrowheads; Bread; Central and West Africa; Ceramics; Cereals; Confidence intervals; Discovery and exploration; Early Holocene; East Asia; Environmental aspects; Excavations (Archaeology); Grinding tools; Historic artifacts; Lithics; Location; Neolithic Age; Palaeolithic and epipalaeolithic; Pottery; Pottery, Ancient; Prehistoric archaeology; Prehistoric tools; Prehistory and protohistory; Sahara; Sahel; Statistical analysis; Sub-Saharan; Subsistence economy; Survival strategy; Mali; Africa; Asia; ceramics; bifacial arrowheads; Early Holocene; Africa; Sub-Saharan; Sahel; Sahara; Subsistence strategy; Lithic industry; Ceramics; Dating; Holocene; Arrowhead
• ISSN: 0003-598X; 1745-1744
• DOI: 10.1017/S0003598X00099245

New excavations in ravines at Ounjougou in Mali have brought to light a lithic and ceramic assemblage that dates from before 9400 cal BC. The authors show that this first use of pottery coincides with a warm wet period in the Sahara. As in East Asia, where very early ceramics are also known, the pottery and small bifacial arrowheads were the components of a new subsistence strategy exploiting an ecology associated with abundant wild grasses. In Africa, however, the seeds were probably boiled (then as now) rather than made into bread.