Plant use at an early Islamic merchant town in the West African Sahel: the archaeobotany of Essouk-Tadmakka (Mali) |
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Authors: | Sam Nixon Mary Anne Murray Dorian Q Fuller |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK |
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Abstract: | We present archaeobotanical data from the early Islamic era (ca. a.d. 750–1400) obtained from excavations at Essouk-Tadmakka, an important trans-Saharan trading town site in the West African
Sahel and an early centre of the Tuareg. The paper provides insight into a little researched area of arid zone medieval West
Africa and presents practically the only substantive archaeobotanical evidence of the medieval Tuareg. The evidence firstly
enables us to shed greater light on the Arabic historical references to traditions of wild cereal gathering at Essouk-Tadmakka.
It also establishes the presence at the site of a range of important taxa, including pearl millet, date, balanites, cotton
and linseed, as well as a host of other fruits, legumes (Fabaceae) and wild plants. Perhaps the most striking finding is the
earliest and largest archaeobotanical data set for wheat in West Africa. In addition to providing the first archaeobotanically
based discussion of Essouk-Tadmakka’s gathering traditions, agriculture, and grain importation, we also seek to highlight
certain evidence for change over time in the archaeobotany recovered. The data seems to suggest that towards the end of the
site’s occupation (ca. a.d. 1300) there was a shift to increased presence of fruit and legumes and more limited presence of cereals, and we attempt
to relate this to wider shifts in Sahelian culture at this time. |
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