Sample name: Diouboye

Reference: S. A. Dueppen and C. Gokee. 2014. Hunting on the margins of medieval West African states: a preliminary study of the zooarchaeological record at Diouboye, Senegal. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa 49(3):354-385 [ER 3766]

Lithology: claystone

Taphonomic context: human accumulation, settlement

Archaeology: ceramics, hearths, metal tools, stone tools, other artifacts, other structures

Habitat comments: "Diouboye is dispersed over an area of 12.5 ha and lies at the centre of a settlement system that includes 19 homestead and hamlet sites. Twelve residential areas, some lightly mounded, and four non-residential areas were defined, including two possible middens and two zones formed by post-depositional disturbance. The residential areas comprise concentrations of pottery sherds, ground stone implements and stone features variously interpreted as pot rests, granary bases, hut foundations and possible drying platforms. Compact living surfaces exposed through excavation featured informal hearths with oxidised soil and ash lenses, earthen wall stubs and circular and linear stone foundations similar to those covering the site. Four living surfaces presented cylindrical pits (0.7–1.4 m in diameter) dug by the residents of Diouboye to depths of up to 0.9 m".
"Artefacts from both excavation and surface contexts suggest that daily life within Diouboye revolved around a suite of subsistence, craft and exchange activities. Imported objects, such as glass and carnelian beads, copper ornaments and cowry shells, all attest to participation in long-distance exchange networks. Clear direct evidence for local craft production was slim, but several terracotta spindle whorls, a possible potter’s hand-wheel and a vitrified conical crucible suggest that the occupants of Diouboye may have woven cloth, made pottery and even worked soft metals, either copper or gold. Although the origin of the iron tools remains unknown, these included harpoons and blades, ostensibly for procuring fish and wild game. Ground stone implements and chipped stone debris further hint at plant and animal processing activities".

Life forms: carnivores, primates, rodents, ungulates, other small mammals, birds, lizards, turtles, other reptiles, frogs, fishes, clams, snails

Sampling methods: quarry, screenwash, surface

Sample size: 259 specimens

Years: 2008 - 2009

Net or trap nights: 0

Basal area status: not applicable

Sampling comments: "Excavations in 2008 and 2009 focused on comparing depositional sequences and material assemblages across a sample of seven residential areas and two non-residential areas. Excavations proceeded within 2 × 2 m grid units according to natural stratigraphy, with thicker depositional layers subdivided at arbitrary 10 cm levels. All deposits were screened through 2 mm mesh and systematic flotation samples were collected".
"In total, the Diouboye faunal assemblage includes 47.4 kg of bone from 51.71 m3 of deposit; approximately 1 kg per m3 of excavated volume. Due to the large size of the assemblage, a sample of 54 "field specimen" contexts was selected for the faunal analysis, representing an array of depositional and feature types and distributed among the six excavation areas".

Sample no: 4029

Contributor no: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2022-10-26 13:37:34

Modified: 2022-10-26 02:50:31