Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016, pp. 257–289 257

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture –1500 BC to the Beginning of the Common Era

Gabriele Franke

Résumé

Dans le centre du Nigeria, la culture de Nok ainsi que les célèbres sculptures en terre cuite qui lui sont associées font l’objet depuis 2005 d’un projet de recherche conjoint entre la Goethe-Universität de Francfort et la Commission pour les Musées et Monuments du Nigeria. Une question de recherche essentielle concerne les aspects chronologiques de cette culture, que des travaux antérieurs ont permis de rattacher à une période comprise entre le milieu du premier millénaire BC et les premiers siècles de notre ère. Cet article présente et commente les dates radiocarbones et par thermoluminescence obtenues dans le cadre du projet Nok de l’Université de Francfort. Une chronologie pour la culture de Nok est proposée à partir d’une approche combinant les dates absolues avec les résultats d’une étude détaillée de la céramique. Une phase précoce de la culture de Nok débute vers le milieu du deuxième millénaire BC. Sa phase principale, au cours de laquelle apparaissent les sculptures en terre cuite ainsi que la métallurgie du fer, commence durant le neuvième siècle BC et s’achève au quatrième siècle BC. Une phase plus tardive, marquée par une nette diminution des témoignages archéologiques, s’étend jusqu’aux derniers siècles avant notre ère. La céramique ainsi que les sculptures en terre cuite typiques de la culture Nok disparaissent complètement sur les sites datés à partir des premiers siècles de notre ère. La fin de la culture de Nok peut ainsi être située aux alentours du tournant de notre ère.

Abstract

The Central Nigerian Nok Culture and its well-known terra-cotta figurines have been the focus of a joint research project between the Goethe University Frankfurt and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria since 2005. One major research question concerns chronological aspects of the Nok Culture, for which a period from around the middle of the first millennium BC to the first centuries AD had been suggested by previous investigations. This paper presents and discusses the radiocarbon and luminescence dates ob-tained by the Frankfurt Nok project. Combining the absolute dates with the results of a comprehensive pottery analysis, a chronology for the Nok Culture has been developed. An early phase of the Nok Culture’s development begins around the middle of the second millennium BC. Its main phase, in which terracotta figurines and iron production appear, starts in the 9th century BC and ends in the 4th century BC. A later phase with vanishing evidence extends into the last centuries BC. On sites dating from the first centuries AD onwards no more Nok terracotta or pottery are found; the end of the Nok Culture is thus set around the turn of the Common Era.

Keywords: Nok Culture, Nigeria, chronology, radiocarbon dating, pottery, Iron Age

DOI 10.3213/2191-5784-10297 © Africa Magna Verlag, Frankfurt a. M.Published online 13 Dec 2016

Gabriele Franke 8 g.franke@em.uni-frankfurt.de * Institute for Archaeological Sciences, African Archaeology & Archaeobotany, Goethe University, Norbert-Wollheim-Platz 1, 60629 Frankfurt a. M., Germany

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Introduction

It was British archaeologist Bernard Fagg, working for the British colonial administration, who first identified the Nok Culture in 1944 when he discovered similarities between a newly found terracotta head from Jemaa and one found near the village of Nok in 1928. Both were recovered in tin mines west of the Jos Plateau in Central Nigeria. Many more Nok terracotta parts were found subsequently in the alluvial though sealed deposits of these tin mines, especially near Nok village (Fagg 1945). Establishing an age for the figurines proved difficult. Today’s absolute dating methods such as radiocarbon and luminescence were not yet devised for archaeologi-cal age determinations. The first indication came from the geological layers, in which the figurines and other cultural material were found. British geologist G. Bond described a geological sequence which included the cultural horizon of the Nok terracotta figurines (Bond 1956: 198, 200). Assuming that the cutting of the river channels, in which the finds were deposited, would have needed a period of heavier rainfall, he tentatively cor-related it with the Nakuran Wet Phase, a period of more intense rainfall in the first millennium BC1, linked in East Africa to the Later Stone Age. Further assuming that the deposition of the figurines would have occurred after the rainfall maximum, the age of the Nok Culture was set into the second half of the first millennium BC (Fagg 1956: 221) — at that time a surprisingly old age for the elaborate terracotta figurines, placing them among the oldest figural sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa.

More than 60 years have passed since this first age estimate. The excavations by B. Fagg, A. Fagg, R. Soper, and J. Jemkur (Fagg 1968, 1990; Fagg A. 1972, 2014; Jemkur 1992, 2014) in the 1960s and 1970s added absolute dates to this tentative placement into the first millennium BC, which put the duration of the Nok Culture between 500 BC and 200 AD (Fagg 1962: 445). This age estimate remained largely unchanged until 2005, even if a beginning of the Nok Culture in the early first millennium BC was suggested some years earlier (Boullier et al. 2002/2003).

After several decades, in which Nok sites were loot-ed and destroyed on a large scale, archaeologists from Goethe University Frankfurt in 2005 restarted scientific investigations (Breunig & Rupp 2010). Between 2005 and 2008 the archaeological potential of Nok Culture

1 “BC/AD” reflects calendar years, for both luminescence and cali-brated radiocarbon dates. It should, however, be kept in mind that in the older literature radiocarbon dates were cited uncalibrated, simply converted into calendar years using 1950 as reference year. In this paper, OxCal 4.2, IntCal13 (Bronk Ramsey 2009; Reimer et al. 2013) is used for calibration. If not mentioned otherwise, the time range is shown with 2-sigma probability (95.4 %).

sites was tested by surveys and excavations; absolute dates were obtained, both by luminescence measure-ments on Nok figurines and by radiocarbon measure-ments on organic material. Most results fall into the first millennium BC, confirming Fagg’s age estimates. In 2009, these investigations resulted in a long-term research project (Frankfurt Nok project), funded by the German Research Foundation (Breunig 2009) and currently being in its third project phase (2015–2017). The project’s key study area encompasses about 300 km2 (15 x 20 km) northeast of the Nigerian capital of Abuja; a research station is located near the village of Janjala (Kaduna State) (Fig. 1). One of the major research topics has been the establishment of a chronology of the Nok Culture (Breunig 2009: 345–349). On the one hand, absolute dates have been collected from a large number of Nok sites; the dates provide an absolute time frame for the Nok Culture period and add substantially to the number of dates that were available before then. On the other hand, pottery analysis has resulted in the defini-tion of several temporal pottery groups. Combining the absolute dates and the results of the pottery analysis, a chronology of the Nok Culture has been developed, spanning more than a millennium (Franke 2014, 2015; Franke & Breunig 2014).

This article presents and discusses the absolute dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (Table 1, Table 2a & 2b) and provides a list of the 69 sites dated, which includes information on excavations, finds and chronological classification (Table 3). Since the pottery plays an important role in defining chronological phases, a summary of the results of the pottery analysis is given. Finally, a chronology of the Nok Culture with three absolute-chronological phases is established. Before turning to the data of the Frankfurt Nok project, the absolute dates obtained by past research are reviewed.

Absolute dates obtained in the 20th century

Early radiocarbon dates (1950s to 1970s)

Shortly after geological evidence placed the age of the Nok Culture into the second half of the first millen-nium BC, the radiocarbon method became available for archaeologists. In 1951, B. Fagg submitted wood and charcoal samples from the geological layers containing Nok material as well as from the clay layer above the archaeological horizon to the Geochronometric Labora-tory at Yale University, New Haven, USA. It took six years until the first results were published (Barendsen et al. 1957: 916–918), mainly due to complications in the laboratories through contaminations caused by the long-range effects from fall-out after nuclear tests (Fagg 1959: 291).

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The results confirmed the initial age estimate. The undisturbed layer of dark grey clay overlying the main figurine horizon at the Main Paddock tin mine at Nok was dated to about 200 AD (Y-474), providing a termi-nus ante quem for the Nok material found below (see Table 4 for a list of published radiocarbon dates). The layer in which the figurines and the associated material were found yielded a date of 900 BC (Y-142-4; Fagg 1962: 445). Though this date was considered to be the most probable (Barendsen et al. 1957: 916), Fagg as-sumed it to represent deposits formed early in the Na-kuran Wet Phase and stated that “it is not unreasonable to date the figurine culture to the period between about 500 B.C. and A.D. 200, bearing in mind the probability that the introduction of iron working is unlikely to have reached the area before 500 B.C.” (Fagg 1962: 445).

This age estimate remained valid through the exca-vations at the non-alluvial sites of Taruga (Fagg 1968, 1969), Samun Dukiya (Fagg A. 1972), and Katsina Ala (Fagg A. 2014) in the 1960s. For each site, charcoal samples were submitted for radiocarbon measurement. Taruga yielded several consistent ages, ranging from

2541±104 bp to 2042±126 bp (Burleigh et al. 1977: 154–155; Calvocoressi & David 1979: 10; Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 13). In calibrated calendar years, they range between 894–402 BC and 377 BC–219 AD (Tab. 4). Only one date deviates, falling into the latter half of the second millennium AD (BM 939). At Samun Dukiya, one radiocarbon sample attributed to the Nok occupation horizon yielded a calibrated age of 399 BC-17 AD (I-4913; Fagg A. 1972: 77). The other 14C result from Samun Dukiya fell into the second millennium BC and was considered to derive from an earlier, pre-Nok settlement episode (I-4914; Fagg A. 1972: 77). The radiocarbon sample from Katsina Ala also yielded a young date, between the 15th and 17th century AD (BM 535; Burleigh et al. 1977: 155).

Figure 2 shows the single calibration plots and the summed probability density of the radiocarbon dates from Nok, Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala. The majority of dates fall into the first millen-nium BC; the summed density is highest between the 8th and 1st century BC. However, the large standard errors and the calibration curve plateau between the 8th

Figure 1. Map showing all sites for which absolute dates were obtained (n=69), separated into Nok sites (red), pre-Nok sites (yellow) and post-Nok sites (blue). Most sites are located in the key study area (white box) around the project’s research station in Janjala village. Sites further away are shown in the locator map (top left).

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and 4th century BC do not allow precise age estimates2. In the 95.4% probability range, three dates from Taruga range between the 9th and 5th century BC, making it equally probable that the Nok Culture began in the 9th century BC or in the 5th century BC.

Thermoluminescence dates (1970s)

The first Nok terracotta dated by the thermolumines-cence method (TL) was the Jemaa head, found in 1944. In the absence of a surrounding soil sample the sedi-ment found inside the head was used as external dose, resulting in an age of 2480±220 years. Without taking an external dose into account, the result is slightly older (2570±230 years); yet both dates range around the middle of the first millennium BC and agree with the radiocarbon dates (Fagg & Fleming 1970: 54–55).

In 1976, it became necessary to date ceramic mate-rial directly when A. Fagg and J. Jemkur noticed possible mixtures of Nok pottery material with younger material (Calvocoressi & David 1979: 10–11; Jemkur 1986: 166). Potsherds and terracotta fragments were submitted for TL dating to the Oxford Research Laboratory for Archaeol-ogy. The first two results published came from the site of Chado and ranged between the 4th and 7th century AD (Jemkur 1978: 34–35). Further results were published by Calvocoressi & David (1979: 29) and Jemkur (1986, 1992: 68–70). Table 5 lists all published TL dates, adjusted by some recent corrections by A. Fagg3. More than half of the TL results date into the first millennium BC (when taking the statistical error into account, the maximum age range is between 765 BC and AD 175) and correspond to the radiocarbon ages. While the terracotta sample from Katsina Ala is in line with these dates, the pottery sample is much younger (OX TL 187.r1; Flem-ing 1979: 139) and agrees with the 14C result (BM 535; Burleigh et al. 1977: 155); this is a significant indica-tion of a mixture of Nok material with a later occupation

2 The calibration curve plateau between the 8th and 4th century BC prevents the translation of radiocarbon years into precise calendar year estimates. New high-precision laboratory methods and inde-pendent quality controls have reduced the statistical error to 15–40 years (Kromer 2007: 5) while refinements in the calibration curve (IntCal 13, Reimer et al. 2013) have led to greater accuracy in cali-brated calendar years. The ranges narrow on both ends of the plateau, producing calibrated dates between the 8th and mid-6th century BC on one end and the mid-6th and 4th century BC on the other. These developments reduce the number of radiocarbon dates that cannot be converted to a more precise time frame than ca 800–400 BC, but the problem remains for radiocarbon dates of ca 2450 bp.

3 The amendments made by A. Fagg (pers. comm. 13.6.2013) are: OX TL 187.m was corrected to Jemaa (from Maitumbi); the standard errors on OX TL 187.a (to 180) and 187.h (to 190) were changed; and the date on the female figure sitting on a pot from Chado was corrected to AD 115±160.

at this site. The TL dates for Ankiring are also younger, falling into the first half of the first millennium AD. The samples, however, were not taken from the figurines but from some associated material; in addition, the figurine style seems unusual and not necessarily connected with the Nok Culture (Fagg 1990: 139; Jemkur 1992: 69). Another set of even younger dates in the first millennium AD comes from Chado (both from potsherds and figurine fragments); at least some of the figurines, however, feature the typical Nok terracotta style (Fagg 1990: 124, 129). Since Chado is the only known site with Nok figurines that date into the Common Era, one must consider the possibility that the TL measurements do not reflect the time of production. There are several factors that can influence the TL signal, such as inadequate burial in the ground (Aitken 1989: 156), later exposure to heat (e.g. from bushfires) or a lack of soil samples that can be used as external dose (Fleming 1976: 120–127). Considering that the exact find context and the ceramic objects sampled are not known, the TL dates from Ankiring and Chado are not reliable enough to suggest an extension of the Nok tradition well into the first millennium AD (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 16, 18; Franke 2015: 35–36).

Further radiocarbon dates

Between the 1970s and 2005, when the first investiga-tions by the Frankfurt Nok Project started, no further dates were obtained for the Nok Culture from a scien-tifically excavated archaeological context. Of course, there are plenty of TL dates in circulation, based on Nok figurines in museums or private collections (e.g. Chesi & Merzeder 2006). However, all figurines lack a secure archaeological context; and since they may be partly or fully counterfeits (Breunig & Ameje 2006), these dates are not reliable. There are, however, some radiocarbon dates that appear to be realistic (Table 4). They were obtained by C. Boullier, who did a stylistic and chronological analysis on Nok terracotta figurines in museums and private collections in Europe (Boul-lier & Person 1999; Boullier 2001; Boullier et al. 2002/2003). She submitted charcoal pieces from the hollow interior of the Nok figurines for radiocarbon dating, assuming that the charcoal derived from wooden frameworks used during the construction of the figu-rines or from the sediment of the Nok sites they came from (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 18). All 17 results date into the first millennium BC; the maximum range lies between the 10th and 2nd century BC. Figure 3 shows the single calibration plots and the summed prob-ability density for Boullier’s radiocarbon dates, with the majority ranging between ca 900 and 400 BC, again mostly within the calibration curve plateau. It is known, though, that sediment from Nok sites is intentionally filled into Nok figurines, original or not, to give them authenticity. Then, the radiocarbon dates would confirm

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Figure 2. Single calibration plots and summed probability density of radiocarbon dates from Nok, Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala (n=17). Dates older than 4000 bp are not included.

Figure 3. Single calibration plots and summed probability density of radiocarbon dates obtained by C. Boullier (n=17).

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the age of the Nok sites the sediment came from but not the age of the figurines (Breunig 2009: 345–346). In the meantime, however, the Frankfurt project has excavated a large number of Nok terracotta parts that are very similar in stylistic details to the ones analysed by Boullier. By implication, this would mean that at least some parts and with them the charcoal are authentic and the radiocarbon dates can be considered realistic.

Summary

Most of the radiocarbon and TL dates confirm the initial estimate based on geological evidence that the Nok Culture dates to the latter half of first millennium BC. While Fagg put the beginning of the Nok Culture around 500 BC (Fagg 1962: 445), Boullier suggested an earlier beginning, which is based on three radiocarbon dates with calibrated age ranges between ca 900 and 800 BC (Boullier et al. 2002/2003: 27). A beginning in the early first millennium BC would explain one of the first radiocarbon dates from Nok (Y-142-4), cali-brated to 1262–856 BC and originally thought to be too early (Fagg 1962: 445). Regarding the end of the Nok Culture, none of Boullier’s dates is younger than the 2nd century BC and there even is a sharp drop in dates in the 4th century BC, possibly indicating an earlier end than that suggested by Fagg (200 AD). In any case, at the end of the 20th century, the Nok Culture was safely positioned in the first millennium BC.

Absolute dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok Project since 2005

The placement of the Nok Culture into the first millen-nium BC was the ground from which the research of the Frankfurt Nok Project on chronological aspects started. A large number of absolute dates from scientifically ex-cavated Nok sites in combination with a pottery analysis form the basis for developing a chronology which not only defines an absolute time frame but also distinguishes several phases during the duration of the Nok Culture and separates Nok pottery from younger pottery material in the research area (Franke 2014; Franke & Breunig 2014).

The pottery analysis has been ongoing since 2009, being the first systematic investigation into Nok pottery. Almost no prior information was available to draw on — only a few general descriptions of the pottery found at Taruga, Samun Dukiya, and Katsina Ala have been published (Fagg 1969: 48; Fagg A. 1972: 77; Jemkur 1992: 49). A total of 15,000 diagnostic (i.e., decorated and rim sherds) pottery fragments from 48 sites (dated and containing pottery material) have been analysed so far, resulting in the definition of several pottery groups described below (Franke 2015).

Overall, 174 radiocarbon and 27 luminescence dates (Table 1, 2a & 2b) were collected between 2005 and 2014 from 69 sites that were tested or excavated (see Table 3 for details on these sites). 65 of the sites are radiocarbon dated; TL dates are available for 19 sites, of which only four sites have no additional radiocarbon dates due to a lack of datable organic material. The majority of the 65 radiocarbon dated sites were tested with small excavation units of not more than 3 x 3 m; the intention was to recover archaeobotanical material for dating and potsherds for chronological analysis. For such sites, usually not more than one or two dates were obtained. For sites at which larger excavations took place, more samples were dated (from different units, depths, features, and contexts). The number of dates by sites, therefore, varies considerably (up to 37 samples for the project’s largest excavation at the Pangwari site, 2012/34).

Samples and laboratories

Radiocarbon measurementsFrom the start of the Frankfurt investigations, archaeo-botanical samples have been taken during all excava-tions. The sediment samples usually comprise 10–20 litres, mainly from pit features or charcoal concentra-tions, and undergo the usual flotation process. The samples are then screened and analysed in the Archaeo-botanical Laboratory of the Goethe University Frankfurt (Kahlheber et al. 2009). For dating purposes, charred annual plant material has been preferred over charcoal, most often in the form of pearl millet (Pennisetum glau-cum) or Canarium schweinfurthii. Approximately 75% of all radiocarbon samples were annual plant remains (55% pearl millet, 20% other plant material), only 25% were charcoal samples.

Five laboratories have been involved in radiocar-bon dating since 2005: Beta Analytic, Miami, USA (Beta); AMS laboratory, Friedrich-Alexander Uni-versität Erlangen/Nürnberg, Germany (Erl); Leibniz Laboratory, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Ger-many (KIA); Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry Mannheim, Germany (MAMS)4; and P.J. Van de Graaff Laboratory, Utrecht University, Netherlands (UtC). All laboratories use the accelerator mass spectrometry method (AMS) and follow the recommended conven-

4 The Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry Mannheim was opened in 2010, replacing the radiocarbon facility at the Heidel-berg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Measurements prior to 2010 were prepared in Heidelberg and measured in Zurich, Switzerland, where their AMS machine was located. This machine (MICADAS) was transferred to Mannheim in 2010. All samples, thus, were measured in the same machine and carry a MAMS laboratory code.

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tions for CRA (conventional radiocarbon age) (see Wood 2015 for a recent summary on the publishing of radiocarbon results). The conventional radiocarbon ages (see Table 1, 14C age in years bp) are corrected for isotopic fractionation, calculated by using the δ13C measured together with 14C by AMS. This δ13C value is thus not directly comparable to the δ13C value measured in an IRMS (Isotope Ration Mass Spectrometer) and should not be used for further interpretation because it can be distorted by the graphitisation procedure and by effects during AMS measurement5. Quoted errors repre-sent a 1-sigma standard deviation (68.2% probability). Depending on the laboratory, conventional radiocarbon age and sigma may be rounded to the nearest 10 years.

Luminescence measurementsLuminescence dates, by both optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL), have been obtained in cases where no organic material was available for radiocarbon dating or where a direct dating of the object in question (e.g. iron-smelting furnaces) was required. Ceramic objects dated include terracotta figurine fragments, potsherds, and furnace wall or tuyère fragments. In most cases, soil from the excavation or from inside the terracotta figurines was used to determine the external dose rate.

The Frankfurt Nok project has cooperated with two laboratories. In 2007, ten figurine samples were measured at the Rathgen Laboratory in Berlin, Germany. OSL measurements were conducted on quartz grains (125–180 µm) from the archaeological samples. OSL was used rather than TL because of better reliability and a slightly smaller dating error (between 5–10% compared to 7–12% in TL; pers. comm. C. Goedicke 20.5.2007). Since 2012, a total of 17 terracotta, pottery, and furnace samples have been submitted to the Klaus-Tschira-Centre for Archaeometry (MAL). Both archaeological and soil samples were analysed by Low Level Neutron Activa-tion Analysis (NAA) for doserate determination. The paleodoses, or absorbed doses, of the archaeological samples were obtained by additive (multiple aliquot) TL measurements on both, quartz minerals (100–200 µm) and fine-grain particles (4–11 µm) (pers. comm. S. Lindauer 11.3.2013; see Table 2b for dose information). The MAL ages given in Table 2a are calculated as the error-weighted averages of all measurements performed on one sample; quoted errors represent a 1-sigma stan-dard deviation (68.2% probability). Depending on the laboratory, measured age and sigma may be rounded to the nearest 50 years, considering the error due to the assumed moisture content of the soil.

5 This does not apply for measurements made by Beta Analytic. Here, the reported δ13C values are for the material itself, measured in an IRMS on the pretreated sample material.

Results and discussion of absolute dates

Radiocarbon datesFifteen dates were omitted from further consideration — six are affected by the bomb 14C effect, five are younger than 199 bp, and four dates are older than the seventh millennium BC. Figure 4 shows the calibrated age ranges for each of the reliable 159 radiocarbon results in chronological order from oldest to youngest date (us-ing OxCal 4.2, IntCal13, 95.4% probability). The dates range between ca 1600 BC and 1600 AD, spanning a time period of more than 3000 years.

The earliest evidence of settlement and farming goes back to around the middle of the second millen-nium BC. 20 dates from nine sites fall into the time period between 1600 and 1000 BC, 18 of which are on annual plant remains. They indicate that people growing pearl millet were living in the key study area and to the north (see Ankoro, 2011/38 in Fig. 1). Despite intensive surveying, only one site was discovered in the key study area that — consisting of a concentration of quartz artefacts as evidence for stone working — is suggested to be older than the second millennium BC (Tudun Kaura, 2011/4). Unfortunately, the only organic material recovered gave a modern radiocarbon date.

Most of these early sites contain Nok terracotta fragments; they are, however, not found in the ex-cavated material but on the surface, left over from illegal digging activities and in no secure context with the excavated and dated material such as pottery and stone artefacts. At such sites, other radiocarbon dates that fall into the first millennium BC indicate later Nok occupation episodes, to which the figurine parts most likely belong. Even younger radiocarbon dates, rang-ing between the middle of the first and middle of the second millennium AD, are available for some sites; they indicate that Nok Culture sites continued to be used in “post-Nok” times6.

The number of sites found (and excavated) in-creases in the early first millennium BC; older sites continue to be occupied. From the 10th and 9th century BC onwards, terracotta figurines are found in all excava-tions, now securely associated with the other excavated

6 To distinguish Nok Culture sites from younger sites with different ceramic inventories and without Nok terracotta figurines, the term “post-Nok” has been coined. Such sites cannot be attributed to known traditions due to a lack of an established archaeological sequence for the time and region under consideration. Acknowl-edging the shortcomings of the term “post-Nok” with its focus on the Nok Culture as the defining complex in the archaeology of the region, it will be used as working term for the sake of delimiting Nok Culture sites from subsequent sites.

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Figure 4 (continued on next pages). Single calibration plots of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (n=159). Each date is shown with its laboratory number and a site abbreviation.

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Figure 4 (end). Single calibration plots of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project between 2005 and 2014 (n=159). Each date is shown with its laboratory number and a site abbreviation.

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material and the radiocarbon dates. This time obviously marks the beginning of the Nok Culture terracotta tradi-tion. 15 dates (all on pearl millet) feature very precise calendar year ranges between ca 830 and 760 BC, before the beginning of the calibration curve plateau. The earliest terracotta deposits excavated date to this period and are proof that the terracotta tradition was well established in the late 9th century BC at the latest.

The majority of radiocarbon dates lie in the calibra-tion curve plateau between about 800 BC and 400 BC, in which no precise age estimates are possible. The num-ber of sites increases substantially; all sites contain Nok terracotta figurines. It is in sites dating to this period that evidence of iron working in form of iron-smelting furnaces, slag, and very few iron objects appears for the first time. While at least one of the furnaces (at Intini, 2010/03) is directly luminescence dated to the Nok period, the association of the iron objects is not beyond doubt. They are usually found in the excavations but not in secure context with Nok material. As mentioned above, younger occupation episodes are present on Nok sites and the iron objects could be associated with them as well.

After 400 BC, the number of radiocarbon dates and sites containing Nok terracotta figurines decreases substantially. This is not an artefact of sampling; the key study area is well surveyed and sites would have been recorded if existing. Dates of the first and second millennium AD belong either to post-Nok sites that no longer contain Nok material or to younger occupation horizons at Nok sites, which can be distinguished by pottery style.

The large amount of calibrated radiocarbon dates provides a continuous temporal sequence between the middle of the second millennium BC and the second millennium AD, with a significant increase in the num-ber of dates and sites in the 9th century BC and a drop in the 4th century BC. Absolute dates by themselves, however, do not link sites to the Nok Culture. So far, the presence of Nok-style terracotta figurines has made a site a Nok Culture site. Taking this criterion as the defining attribute, only sites in the first millennium BC with securely associated terracotta finds can be safely attributed to the Nok Culture — with the period between the 9th and the 4th centuries BC constituting the main phase. Thus, the Frankfurt project’s radiocarbon dates confirm the older dates presented above: the Nok terra-cotta figures belong to the first millennium BC. Whether the earlier and later sites recorded, which do not contain terracotta parts, also belong to the Nok Culture cannot be answered by absolute dates alone. Other evidence, especially the pottery analysis, is discussed below.

Luminescence datesTerracotta figurinesEleven fragments of terracotta figurines and one frag-ment of an anthropomorphic vessel from nine sites were submitted for luminescence dating. The ten samples dated by OSL in 2007 range in age between 1064–720 BC (Akura, 5A72) and 445–157 BC (Polwaya, 3POL). The two samples dated by TL in 2013 (Fig. 5.1–2) are slightly younger, between the 4th century BC and the 2nd century AD. The luminescence dates confirm the first millennium BC as the production period of Nok terracotta figurines. For five sites, luminescence dates were obtained in addition to radiocarbon dates; in some cases they differ significantly (Table 6). Especially the samples from Ankoro demonstrate the presence of different occupation episodes at some sites during the Nok period as mentioned above.

PotteryOnly three potsherds were submitted for TL dating (Fig. 5.3–5). Their style was, based on the pottery clas-sification, not in line with the sites’ radiocarbon dates but seemed to indicate other occupation episodes. The TL date for the sherd from Ido (with a carved roulette pattern) confirmed the pottery classification into the early second millennium AD and thus a later occupation episode at the site. The other two results (Pabeki, Tudun Dosa) are difficult to interpret: The Pabeki sherd gave a date in the late first millennium AD, corresponding to evidence of a later occupation at this Nok site, but not clearly matching the pottery classification. The sherd from Tudun Dosa with a carved roulette pattern should — similar to other inventories — date into the first millennium AD. The very large measurement error, however, does not allow a clear allocation.

Furnace fragmentsEspecially with regard to the discussion on the begin-ning of iron production in the Nok Culture and in sub-Saharan Africa in general (see Eggert 2014 for a recent summary), it has been important to date the iron-working remains directly rather than through associated plant material (see Junius 2016 for information on Nok metallurgy). For seven excavated sites containing often several iron-smelting furnaces, TL dates were obtained on samples of furnace walls or tuyères. For all sites, radiocarbon dates were obtained as well (Table 7). Most radiocarbon samples were from charcoal associ-ated with the excavated furnaces and date to the Nok period between ca 800 and 400 BC. The earliest 14C dates range between ca 800 and 550 BC, suggesting that iron working began not later than the 6th and not earlier than the 8th century BC.

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Figure 5. Fired clay objects measured by thermoluminescence in 2013. 1) Terracotta figurine from Daji Gwana; 2) Anthropo-morph vessel from Taka Lafiya; 3) Carved roulette potsherd from Ido; 4) Carved roulette potsherd from Tudun Dosa; 5) Potsherd with horizontal application from Pabeki.

The luminescence dates, however, show a differ-ent picture: except for one date in the first millennium BC (Intini, 2010/03), all dates lie in the first or even early second millennium AD. Heating incidents such as bushfires that may have affected the furnace sites after the end of the Nok Culture cannot explain these dates adequately. Except for the much younger date from the furnace at Sabon Janruwa, all luminescence dates overlap consistently in the early centuries AD. Research on the Nok Culture’s iron production by

H. Junius (2016) has shown that furnace fragments contain vitrified quartz and feldspar grains. Vitrifica-tion occurs at temperatures exceeding 950–1000°C, temperatures reached in an iron-smelting furnace. A study on vitrified ramparts in Europe found that TL ages become successively younger with increasing fir-ing temperatures above 900°C (Kresten et al. 2003). This offers an explanation for the luminescence dates that are consistently younger than the corresponding

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radiocarbon dates7. The much younger date from Sabon Janruwa may be explained by a higher degree of vit-rification; the Nok Culture date from Intini by the fact that the sample was probably from a part of the furnace that was not affected by heat above 900°C.

In summary, the luminescence results fell short of the project’s expectations. It was hoped that lumi-nescence dates can help overcome the imprecise ra-diocarbon dates of the calibration curve plateau in the middle of the first millennium BC, but the large errors of up to 10% do not allow for accurate age estimates. And especially the TL measurements on the furnace fragments obviously do not reflect the time of build-ing or use. Only the dates on the terracotta fragments are reliable and confirm the first millennium BC as production period.

Classification of Nok Culture Pottery

Absolute dates provide a time span for the Nok Cul-ture if they can be linked to Nok terracotta figurines as the defining attribute of the Nok Culture. But as seen above, they cannot be related to or delimited from the Nok Culture when this find group is absent. Here, the pottery analysis provides further defining attributes. Not only can an absolute time period for the Nok Culture be established, it is also possible to define pottery groups that sub-divide the 400-year calibration curve plateau. The information presented here is a brief summary of the results of a dissertation project (Franke 2015) on Nok Culture pottery, which will be published elsewhere in more detail. In this paper, the focus is on the pottery groups’ sequence which can be used in establishing a chronology for the Nok Culture. The pottery groups are defined on elements of style and form and are based on the results of statistical analysis and a detailed visual examination of pottery inventories of 48 excavated sites. A total of seven Nok Culture groups as well as two groups of Common Era pottery have been defined (Fig. 6–8).

The oldest pottery group (Puntun Dutse) dates from the middle to the end of the second millennium BC. Puntun Dutse group pottery is quite distinctive with very fine comb-drawn lines (horizontal, wavy, spirals) often combined with rocker comb impressions. Also typical is cross-hatching (Fig. 6.1). While the comb-drawn lines disappear at the end of the second

7 Currently, this hypothesis is being testing at the Klaus-Tschira-Centre in Mannheim, Germany, by Susanne Lindauer. Fragments of different parts of a complete tuyère (with varying degrees of vitrification) found in a furnace at Baidesuru (2013/02) are dated by thermoluminescence to find out whether differences in the measured ages occur.

millennium BC, cross-hatching and comb/rocker comb impressions continue into the first millennium BC. This continuity in combination with continuity in site occu-pation and subsistence allows this pottery group to be linked to the Nok Culture, though terracotta figurines are absent in the excavation contexts (see above).

The first millennium BC encompasses the other six Nok pottery groups, of which the Ido and Ifana groups are the earliest, dating to the early first mil-lennium BC. The later Pangwari and Tsaunim Gurara groups fall into the calibration curve plateau between ca 800 and 400 BC. The Pandauke group dates to the latter half of the first millennium BC, while the Ungwar Kura group is a specific, possibly regional variant of the two later groups.

The Ido group (10th–9th century BC) seems to represent a transition between the pottery of the second and the first millennium BC (Fig. 6.2). Banded motifs appear for the first time as do a small number of terra-cotta figurine fragments. The Ifana group encompasses four sites with radiocarbon dates between ca 900 and 770 BC; the pottery occurs in secure context with terra-cotta figurines and is characterised by bands filled with incised diagonal lines or cross-hatching and delimited by horizontal lines (Fig. 6.3). From the 8th century BC onwards, the number of sites increases significantly. New forms and decorations are added to the already known spectrum of Nok pottery. The main charac-teristic of the Pangwari group (ca 800–550 BC) are horizontal applications decorated with incisions, comb impressions or indentations, below which rocker comb impressions often cover a larger portion of the vessel body (Fig. 6.4). This group’s pottery still lacks the cari-nated vessel form and decorations of incised wavy and arched lines, which define the Tsaunim Gurara group (ca 800–400 BC) (Fig. 6.5). Though in absolute dates almost contemporaneous with the Pangwari group, a slightly younger development is suggested, especially since the typical Tsaunim Gurara decorations continue into the 4th and 3rd century BC — into the subsequent Pandauke group (ca 6th to 1st century BC). Besides arched and wavy lines, bands of several horizontal lines characterise the Pandauke group (Fig. 6.6). Another typical attribute are large, almost plate-like bowls.

In addition to these six pottery groups found at Nok sites throughout the key study area and beyond, there is a site to the east of the key study area called Ungwar Kura (2007/11; see Fig. 1) which features a large variety in decorations and forms — much greater than at other sites. Its pottery forms a separate group consisting of typical Nok pottery attributes as described above, but also of more complex decorations covering larger vessel parts and so-called pottery graters (Fig. 7). Pottery graters are otherwise only known from the Nok

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site of Taruga (Fagg 1967)8. Though absolute dates for Ungwar Kura range between the 8th and 2nd century BC, it is suggested that at least a major part of the site’s oc-cupation took place between the 5th and 2nd century BC.

Nok pottery is absent from sites dating to after the turn of the Common Era. Instead, new decorations in form of carved and fibre roulettes appear as well as new vessel form such as pedestalled bowls (Fig. 8). No detailed pottery analysis has been conducted yet on these post-Nok sites, but two pottery groups have been established to distinguish this pottery from Nok pottery and to differentiate between post-Nok sites with and without fibre roulette decorations. The Janruwa

8 The author had the opportunity to look at pottery excavated at Taruga by kind permission of Angela Fagg in August 2015. The decoration style and fragments of shallow bowls (as typical of the Pandauke and Ungwar Kura groups) suggest that the Taruga site also dates into the latter half of the first millennium BC.

group encompasses sites dating to the first millennium CE, containing pottery decorated primarily with carved wooden roulettes. Fibre roulette decorations start ap-pearing in a secure excavation context at the turn from the first to the second millennium AD. Sites from this time onwards are grouped together in the Gimba group. Most sites and dates in this group range between the 13th and 16th century AD.

As already indicated by different radiocarbon dates at some sites, the pottery analysis has confirmed that Nok sites are often not single-phased but were occupied during different times. Often, Puntun Dutse group pottery is found on sites of the first millennium BC together with Ido, Ifana, Pangwari, and/or Tsaunim Gurara group pottery. The younger Janruwa and Gimba groups are present as well. Not always do radiocarbon dates reflect the presence of all pottery groups at a site; even a single sherd can be an indication of an occupa-tion not datable in absolute terms.

Figure 6. Typical decorations of Nok Culture pottery groups: 1) Puntun Dutse group; 2) Ido group; 3) Ifana group; 4) Pangwari group; 5) Tsaunim Gurara group; 6) Pandauke group.

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Figure 7. Pottery grater from the site of Ungwar Kura (Ungwar Kura group).

Figure 8. Typical decorations and forms of post-Nok pottery groups: 1) Pedestalled bowl (Janruwa group); 2) Carved roulette (raised dot) potsherd (Janruwa group); 3) Carved roulette (ladder) potsherd (Gimba group); 4 & 5) Fibre roulette potsherds (Gimba group).

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Chronology of the Nok Culture

Bringing the results of the pottery analysis and the large number of absolute dates together, a chronology of the Nok Culture has been developed: The Nok Culture period encompasses about 1500 years between the middle of the second millennium BC and the turn of the Common Era. This period can be divided into three phases: Early Nok (ca 1500–900 BC), Middle Nok (ca 900–400 BC), and Late Nok (ca 400–1 BC). Sites dat-ing to after the turn of the Common Era are no longer associated with the Nok Culture (Fig. 9).

Early Nok sites are the first archaeologically visible settlement activities in the key study area appearing around the middle of the second millennium BC. No Nok terracotta figures are found in secure excavation contexts, but other factors demonstrate continuity and development into the first millennium BC sites: similari-ties in pottery attributes and the chemical composition of the clay used for pottery production (Beck 2015), reliance on pearl millet as a staple food, and continuity in site occupation (Fig. 10 shows sites included in the pottery analysis and their Nok occupation episodes). Some radiocarbon dates from sites containing Puntun Dutse pottery reach into the 10th century BC, during which time the pottery of the Ido group appears. With decorations of cross-hatching in horizontal bands it shows attributes of the Puntun Dutse pottery (cross-hatching) as well as of later Nok pottery groups (banded

motifs). Only few terracotta figurines fragments were found at the two sites of the Ido group, which is why this pottery group may represent the transition between the Early and the Middle Nok period.

Interestingly, the earlier beginning of the Nok Culture allows a re-evaluation of a radiocarbon date from Nok which was dismissed as too early (Fagg 1962: 445; Y-142-4; 2875±70 bp); calibrated, it spans a period between the 13th and 9th century BC and could indicate the presence of the Early Nok phase near Nok village. This is supported by a date from nearby Samun Dukiya, also thought too early for the Nok Culture, but nevertheless indicating human occupation (Fagg A. 1972; I-4914; 3470±115 bp). A calibrated age between 2130–1506 BC (2-sigma probability) may put it at the very beginning of the Early Nok phase.

From ca 900 BC onwards, the number of Nok sites in the research area increases substantially, and with them the number of radiocarbon dates. The Middle Nok phase is considered the main phase of the Nok Culture with a large spatial extension, terracotta figurines and iron work-ing. The sites of the Middle Nok phase regularly contain terracotta fragments (sometimes in form of depositions of parts of broken terracotta figurines, e.g. in Ifana or Pangwari), pottery often in large quantities, stone tools in varying quantities, and occasionally iron slag, furnaces (e.g. Intini, Pulu) and possibly iron objects. Several sites with terracotta figurines date before ca 800 BC and attest

Figure 9. Summed probability density of radiocarbon dates obtained by the Frankfurt Nok project (n=159). Three Nok phases (Early, Middle, Late) are defined by absolute-chronological and pottery analysis. Sites after 1 BC/AD belong to other traditions, taken together as “post-Nok”.

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the beginning of the terracotta tradition in the 9th century BC at the latest. The calibration curve plateau between ca 800 and 400 BC does not allow a precise dating of sites. The pottery groups, however, show clear differences and to some degree suggest a chronological sequence — from Ifana pottery group to Pangwari and Tsaunim Gurara and then to Pandauke pottery group. The continuation of patterns from the Tsaunim Gurara to the Pandauke group and the disappearance of typical Pangwari group patterns suggest a somewhat younger age for the Tsaunim Gurara group. The earliest evidence of iron working in form of furnaces falls into the period of the calibration curve plateau. Some potsherds found at furnace sites, however, belong to the Tsaunim Gurara and Pandauke groups and suggest that iron working began not much earlier than the 7th century BC, and thus later than the Nok terracotta tradition.

Starting around 400 BC the number of sites dis-covered in the key study area decreases significantly. Only a few radiocarbon dates are available from a handful of sites attributed to this phase. However, ter-racotta fragments and pottery showing decorative Nok

elements link sites dating to the last centuries BC to the Nok Culture. It should be noted that outside the key study area (see Fig. 1) some Nok sites are assigned to the Late Nok phase as well. Ungwar Kura to the east is one of them, with at least one major occupation horizon dating to the latter half of the first millennium BC. The pottery graters found there link it to the site of Taruga (Fagg 1962), some 70 km to the west, for which most radiocarbon dates point to an occupation during the same time period. Another radiocarbon date falling into this phase comes from east of the key study area, from Samun Dukiya near the village of Nok (Fagg A. 1972). It is therefore suggested that the Nok Culture continued, on a smaller scale and/or in other areas, until about the turn of the Common Era.

The earliest sites of the Common Era in the key study area date as early as the 2nd century AD. Neither Nok terracotta figurines nor Nok pottery are found at these sites — nor at any other Common Era site, which are generally denser covered with artefacts. Inventories of the Janruwa and Gimba pottery groups show roulette decorations; in the key study area carved

Figure 10. Map showing the 48 sites included in pottery analysis with their absolute-chronological classification (Early, Middle, Late Nok). At eight of the twelve Early Nok sites, Middle Nok occupation episodes were present. The number of sites increases significantly in the Middle Nok phase, while only one Late Nok phase was identified in the project’s key study area (white box).

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wooden roulettes occur at least some centuries earlier than fibre roulettes (see David & Vidal 1977). Based on the differences in site structure, find material and the chemical composition of the clay used in pottery production (Beck 2015), the Common Era sites have no connection with the Nok Culture.

Conclusion

The chronological analyses have shown that the Nok Culture spans a period of about 1500 years. It is no longer defined by its characteristic terracotta figurines only, but includes an early phase without such figurines, connected through stylistic and material similarities in pottery and continuity in site occupation. The lack of earlier evidence of settlements suggests a migration of people with pearl millet as staple food into the region around the middle of the second millennium BC. The first terracotta figurines from secure excavation context appear in the early first millennium BC, in connection with a sharp increase in sites. Somewhat later evidence of iron working in form of furnaces is found. The main phase ends in the 4th century BC; few sites — within and outside of the key study area — are attributed the last centuries BC, obviously representing the final phase of the Nok Culture. It is not known what happened to the people of the Nok Culture that had so densely occupied the region. But settlement continues from the early centuries AD onwards, just in a different form: with new pottery decorations and forms, without figurines, and with new staple food (Höhn & Neumann 2016).

Even if the Nok Culture began much earlier than previously thought, the original age estimate of 500 BC–200 AD (Fagg 1990) is partly confirmed: the main phase of the Nok Culture with terracotta figurines and iron working falls into the first millennium BC. Boullier’s dates support this as well (Boullier et al. 2002/2003): with dates between the 9th and 2nd century BC they clearly belong to the period of Nok terracotta production. These dates also show the same sharp drop in the 4th century BC as the project’s dates do and they are as well not younger than the 2nd century BC, which supports to put the end of the Nok Culture around the turn of the Common Era.

The project’s research of the last 10 years has provided many new insights into the Nok Culture, into the terracotta figurines as well as into other aspects of material culture, settlement, iron working, and subsis-tence (Breunig & Rupp 2016; Höhn & Neumann 2016; Junius 2016; Männel & Breunig 2016). It has, how-ever, also documented the alarming scale of devastation of Nok sites by organised looters, selling their booty mostly to Asian, American, and European nationals, and the resulting irretrievable loss of scientific information,

needed to understand the enigma of the Nok Culture with its elaborate terracotta figurines. The information on the chronology of the Nok Culture presented here is a first step in this direction, but by far not the last one. Much more data from scientifically excavated sites and contextual, authentic find material are required to extend the chronological information, gained mostly in a rather small key study area, spatially and temporally — into neighbouring regions and subsequent times.

Acknowledgements

This research has been conducted within the scope of the long-term project “Development of complex societ-ies in sub-Saharan Africa: The Nigerian Nok Culture”, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. We thank our Nigerian cooperation partners, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Univer-sity of Jos, and the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and all people involved in the fieldwork in Nigeria. Special thanks go to Dr. Bernd Kromer and Susanne Lindauer M.Sc. from the Klaus-Tschira-Centre of Ar-chaeometry, who have supplied reliable and fast dates in the last years. Susanne Lindauer und Dr. Alexa Höhn have helped with useful comments on the text.

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728–

365

BC

Penn

iset

um-9

.920

06K

IA 3

0266

unit

A, 9

5 cm

dep

th20

11/3

8A

nkor

oB

omb

C14

Bom

b C

14Pl

ant f

ragm

ent

-28.

920

11M

AM

S 13

628

unit

A: e

xten

sion

, 100

cm

dep

th20

11/3

8A

nkor

o31

76±4

0 bp

1530

–131

6 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-31.

120

12M

AM

S 14

879

unit

A: b

otto

m o

f pit

feat

ure,

100

cm

dep

th (A

B 5

10)

2011

/38

Ank

oro

2849

±32

bp11

12–9

24 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-17.

020

11M

AM

S 13

629

unit

C: 5

th la

yer

2013

/02

Baid

esur

u Fu

rnac

e25

45±2

3 bp

799–

556

BC

Vite

x-2

8.1

2014

MA

MS

1928

9fu

rnac

e D

, infi

lling

2013

/02

Baid

esur

u Fu

rnac

e22

57±2

6 bp

395–

209

BC

Penn

iset

um-1

2.2

2014

MA

MS

1928

8fu

rnac

e B

, infi

lling

(AB

151

)20

06/0

2Ch

orib

arik

i 12

9±33

bp

1674

–194

2 A

DC

harc

oal

-26.

720

07U

tC 1

4863

unit

B5

2011

/40

Daj

i Gw

ana

2669

±38

bp90

1–79

6 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-17.

620

11M

AM

S 13

623

terr

acot

ta c

onte

xt (#

302,

AB

360

)20

11/4

0D

aji G

wan

a25

30±3

0 bp

797–

543

BC

Penn

iset

um-9

.620

14B

eta–

3826

20fin

d co

ncen

tratio

n (#

89, A

B 3

48)

2011

/40

Daj

i Gw

ana

2490

±30

bp78

1–51

1 B

CC

harc

oal

-25.

820

14B

eta–

3835

7te

rrac

otta

con

text

(#19

7, A

B 3

56)

2013

/04

Daj

i Gw

ana

Furn

ace

2508

±24

bp78

7–54

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-16.

320

14M

AM

S 19

291

furn

ace

C, i

nfilli

ng (A

B 1

44)

2013

/04

Daj

i Gw

ana

Furn

ace

1891

±31

bp54

–218

AD

Penn

iset

um-1

8.3

2014

MA

MS

1929

0fu

rnac

e B

, infi

lling

(AB

143

)20

11/4

1D

akko

121

60±4

5 bp

361–

61 B

CC

harc

oal

-32.

320

12M

AM

S 14

876

unit

2: 3

0–40

cm

dep

th (A

B 3

82)

2011

/08

Dam

aisa

210

8±21

bp

1685

–192

8 A

DC

harc

oal

-26.

220

11M

AM

S 14

386

surf

ace

colle

ctio

n on

ly (i

nfilli

ng fu

rnac

e, 2

0 cm

)20

12/1

8D

amba

1583

±21

bp42

0–53

9 A

DPe

nnis

etum

-5.4

2012

MA

MS

1511

280

cm

dep

th (#

2252

, AB

559

)20

11/4

2D

ogon

Daj

i 125

62±3

0 bp

806–

554

BC

Penn

iset

um-3

.520

11M

AM

S 13

632

unit

B: 8

0–10

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 5

06)

2011

/42

Dog

on D

aji 1

2552

±27

bp80

2–55

4 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-8.8

2012

MA

MS

1487

4un

it B

: nex

t to

tuyè

re fr

agm

ents

, 60–

80 c

m d

epth

(AB

478

)20

10/0

1D

oguw

a 1

2936

±26

bp12

22–1

047

BC

Penn

iset

um-1

7.0

2010

MA

MS

1115

5un

it 3:

low

er le

vel (

#810

4)20

10/0

1D

oguw

a 1

2428

±26

bp74

8–40

5 B

CC

harc

oal

-35.

120

10M

AM

S 11

152

unit

1: te

rrac

otta

con

text

(#55

21)

2010

/01

Dog

uwa

119

91±2

4 bp

44 B

C–6

1 A

DC

harc

oal

-27.

320

10M

AM

S 11

153

unit

1: b

otto

m o

f are

a C

(#63

96)

2010

/01

Dog

uwa

112

79±2

4 bp

671–

770

AD

Cha

rcoa

l-3

0.4

2010

MA

MS

1115

1un

it 1:

upp

er le

vel c

onta

inin

g sl

ag (#

2049

)20

10/0

1D

oguw

a 1

373±

23 b

p14

49–1

630

AD

Cha

rcoa

l-2

6.9

2010

MA

MS

1115

4un

it 3:

upp

er le

vel (

#729

4)20

11/4

4D

utse

n Re

ma

616±

28 b

p12

95–1

400

AD

Cha

rcoa

l-2

4.6

2011

MA

MS

1365

6(#

807)

2010

/02

Gid

an D

anaz

umi

2495

±26

bp77

6–53

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-24.

620

10M

AM

S 11

156

(#37

1)20

11/4

6G

imba

490±

30 b

p14

04–1

450

AD

Sorg

hum

-10.

020

11B

eta–

2972

84(#

1239

)20

11/4

7G

ona

Kish

emi

422±

25 b

p14

29–1

614

AD

Cha

rred

seed

-18.

720

12M

AM

S 14

875

30–4

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 3

96)

2005

/01

Idda

h 3

2514

±42

bp79

8–51

0 B

CC

harc

oal

-26.

320

06U

tC 1

4080

unit

B2,

40

cm d

epth

2009

/01

Ido

3036

±26

bp13

93–1

216

BC

Penn

iset

um-1

3.2

2011

MA

MS

1366

4(#

816,

AB

185

)20

09/0

1Id

o27

68±1

3 bp

974–

846

BC

Cha

rcoa

l-2

3.4

2009

MA

MS

1070

3ar

ea B

2009

/01

Ido

2708

±13

bp89

8–81

9 B

CC

harc

oal

-28.

520

09M

AM

S 10

702

(#10

39)

2009

/01

Ido

2704

±23

bp90

1–81

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-22.

920

10M

AM

S 10

742

pit f

eatu

re, 1

00 c

m d

epth

(#10

55, A

B 1

90)

2009

/01

Ido

2408

±23

bp72

8–40

3 B

CC

harc

oal

-37.

720

10M

AM

S 10

741

30–4

0 cm

dep

th (#

882,

AB

176

)20

11/4

8Ifa

na26

32±3

4 bp

893–

772

BC

Penn

iset

um-1

4.6

2011

MA

MS

1362

4un

it 1:

bel

ow te

rrac

otta

find

s (A

B 3

64)

2011

/48

Ifana

2586

±25

bp81

1–76

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-15.

320

11M

AM

S 13

634

unit

2: fe

atur

e N

E–co

rner

(#44

9, A

B 3

62)

2011

/48

Ifana

2550

±25

bp80

1–55

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-16.

820

11M

AM

S 13

635

unit

2: fe

atur

e SW

–cor

ner (

#554

, AB

375

)20

10/0

3In

tini

2421

±25

bp73

6–40

4 B

CC

harc

oal

-31.

120

10M

AM

S 11

159

unit

6: fu

rnac

e co

ntex

t (#1

356)

2010

/03

Intin

i23

92±2

5 bp

703–

398

BC

Cha

rcoa

l-2

6.4

2010

MA

MS

1115

7un

it 1:

furn

ace

cont

ext (

#544

)20

10/0

3In

tini

151±

22 b

p16

66–1

950

AD

Cha

rcoa

l-3

1.5

2010

MA

MS

1115

8un

it 5

(#62

8)20

06/0

3Ja

njal

a A24

31±4

5 bp

755–

403

BC

Penn

iset

um-1

1.0

2006

KIA

302

65un

it 5,

15

cm d

epth

2013

/15

Janj

ala

Furn

ace

2144

±24

bp35

3–93

BC

Plan

t fra

gmen

t-1

9.6

2014

MA

MS

1929

3fu

rnac

e B

, infi

lling

(AB

136

)20

13/1

5Ja

njal

a Fu

rnac

e11

01±2

5 bp

889–

994

AD

Penn

iset

um-1

2.8

2014

MA

MS

1929

4fu

rnac

e A, i

nfilli

ng (A

B 1

37)

Tabl

e 1

(con

tinue

d on

nex

t pag

es).

AM

S-ra

dioc

arbo

n da

tes o

btai

ned

betw

een

2005

and

201

4 by

the

Fran

kfur

t Nok

pro

ject

(n=1

74).

Info

rmat

ion

incl

udes

site

num

ber &

nam

e, c

onve

ntio

nal

14C

age

and

1-s

igm

a er

ror i

n ye

ars b

p, c

alib

rate

d ag

e (B

C/A

D) w

ith 2

-sig

ma

prob

abili

ty, d

ated

mat

eria

l and

δ13

C v

alue

, lab

orat

ory

num

ber a

nd y

ear o

f dat

ing,

and

con

text

info

rmat

ion

for t

he

date

d sa

mpl

e (“

AB

” re

fers

to th

e nu

mbe

r of t

he a

rcha

eobo

tani

cal s

ampl

e, fr

om w

hich

the

date

d m

ater

ial w

as ta

ken;

“#”

giv

es th

e in

divi

dual

ly re

cord

ed fi

nd n

umbe

r). T

he c

onve

ntio

nal 14

C

ages

are

cal

ibra

ted

with

OxC

al 4

.2, I

ntC

al13

(Bro

nk R

amse

y 20

09; R

eime

r et

al.

2013

).

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016278

Site

no.

Site

nam

eC

onve

ntio

nal 14

C

age

in y

ears

bp

Cal

ibra

ted

age

(BC

/AD

) 95

.4%

pro

babi

lity

Mat

eria

l dat

edδ13

C in

‰

Year

da

ted

Lab

orat

ory

no.

Con

text

info

rmat

ion

for

sam

ple

2006

/04

Janr

uwa A

Bom

b C

14B

omb

C14

Seed

frag

men

t-1

7.7

2013

MA

MS

1741

4un

it A

, fea

ture

120

06/0

4Ja

nruw

a A94

20±6

0 bp

9116

–854

7 B

CC

harc

oal

-28.

320

07U

tC 1

4865

unit

D, 6

0 cm

dep

th, b

enea

th te

rrac

otta

2006

/04

Janr

uwa A

2542

±32

bp80

1–54

6 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-8.5

2006

KIA

302

67un

it 5,

60

cm d

epth

2009

/02

Janr

uwa

B76

22±3

4 bp

6566

–642

3 B

CC

harc

oal

-27.

620

10M

AM

S 10

745

50 c

m d

epth

(#59

7)20

09/0

2Ja

nruw

a B

2495

±43

bp79

2–43

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

-11.

920

10M

AM

S 10

744

30 c

m d

epth

(#27

6, A

B 1

57)

2009

/02

Janr

uwa

B24

89±2

8 bp

776–

514

BC

Cha

rcoa

l-2

8.3

2011

MA

MS

1366

3(#

625)

2010

/04

Janr

uwa

C27

09±2

7 bp

906–

810

BC

Penn

iset

um-2

8.1

2010

MA

MS

1116

0fe

atur

e 6

(#21

28)

2010

/04

Janr

uwa

C18

00±4

0 bp

94–3

38 A

DFo

nio

n/a

2010

Bet

a–27

8001

feat

ure

8 (#

7341

)20

10/0

4Ja

nruw

a C

1799

±24

bp13

3–32

2 A

DC

harc

oal

-27.

720

10M

AM

S 11

162

slag

and

cha

rcoa

l con

cent

ratio

n (#

5803

)20

10/0

4Ja

nruw

a C

1740

±30

bp23

6–38

6 A

DFo

nio

-8.3

2011

Bet

a–29

7287

feat

ure

6 (#

4485

)20

10/0

4Ja

nruw

a C

1719

±24

bp25

2–38

9 A

DC

harc

oal

-33.

720

10M

AM

S 11

161

burn

t cla

y co

ncen

tratio

n (#

3156

)20

11/5

0Ja

nruw

a E

1797

±23

bp13

4–32

2 A

DPe

nnis

etum

-7.4

2011

MA

MS

1363

613

th la

yer,

120

cm d

epth

(AB

473

)20

06/0

5Jo

h M

ari

2193

±38

bp37

7–16

8 B

CC

harc

oal

-26.

520

07U

tC 1

4864

from

with

in fu

rnac

e, 3

5 cm

dep

th20

09/0

3K

acha

ma

126

21±2

5 bp

827–

785

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

4.7

2011

MA

MS

1366

5un

it A

(#30

7, A

B 1

43)

2009

/14

Kac

ham

a 2

8791

±18

bp79

53–7

756

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

7.0

2009

MA

MS

1070

1un

it C

: 40

cm d

epth

(#24

)20

09/1

4K

acha

ma

232

82±2

2 bp

1616

–150

6 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

520

11M

AM

S 13

667

unit

B (#

479,

AB

135

)20

09/1

4K

acha

ma

232

30±2

2 bp

1600

–143

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–16.

620

12M

AM

S 15

423

unit

B (#

479,

AB

135

)20

09/1

4K

acha

ma

231

50±3

0 bp

1500

–131

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–17.

320

12B

eta–

3207

23un

it B

(#47

9, A

B 1

35)

2009

/14

Kac

ham

a 2

3094

±14

bp14

16–1

301

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

5.1

2009

MA

MS

1070

0un

it B

: 40

cm d

epth

(#55

8)20

09/1

4K

acha

ma

225

30±3

0 bp

797–

543

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

6.0

2014

Bet

a–38

2622

unit

A (#

186,

AB

148

)20

09/1

4K

acha

ma

224

91±2

8 bp

776–

516

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–3

0.8

2011

MA

MS

1366

6un

it A

(#15

5, A

B 1

50)

2009

/14

Kac

ham

a 2

190±

30 b

pfr

om 1

648

AD

Plan

t fra

gmen

t–1

3.7

2014

Bet

a–38

2623

unit

B (#

167,

AB

184

)20

11/2

4K

agun

i 122

40±3

0 bp

390–

205

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

6.5

2012

Bet

a–31

3506

surf

ace

colle

ctio

n on

ly (A

B 5

24)

2012

/01

Kag

uni 2

2567

±24

bp80

6–59

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–12.

120

14M

AM

S 19

296

surf

ace

colle

ctio

n on

ly (A

B 5

96)

2011

/52

Kan

gale

2538

±23

bp79

6–55

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–12.

820

11M

AM

S 13

637

unit

3: 2

0–40

cm

dep

th (A

B 4

73)

2011

/53

Kas

angw

ai 2

2655

±29

bp89

5–79

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–21.

120

11M

AM

S 13

638

90 c

m d

epth

(#16

82, A

B 4

31)

2013

/03

Kol

in K

uchi

mi F

urna

ceB

omb

C14

Bom

b C

14Se

ed fr

agm

ent

n/a

2014

MA

MS

1929

8fu

rnac

e C

, infi

lling

(AB

147

)20

13/0

3K

olin

Kuc

him

i Fur

nace

2445

±18

bp74

9–41

2 B

CSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–23.

420

14M

AM

S 19

297

furn

ace

B, i

nfilli

ng (A

B 1

46)

2011

/55

Kud

u 3

2570

±27

bp80

8–59

0 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–9.1

2012

MA

MS

1487

320

–40

cm d

epth

(AB

481

)20

11/0

6K

ufai

Gw

ari 2

2776

±24

bp99

7–84

6 B

CC

harr

ed se

ed–2

4.8

2011

MA

MS

1438

840

–60

cm d

epth

2011

/57

Kuf

ai K

uku

225

85±3

0 bp

818–

592

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–1

7.3

2011

MA

MS

1364

040

–60

cm d

epth

(AB

507

)20

10/0

5K

urm

in U

wa

124

64±2

5 bp

763–

431

BC

Can

ariu

m–3

2.3

2010

MA

MS

1116

3fe

atur

e 2

(#16

98, A

B 2

76)

2010

/06

Kur

min

Uw

a 2

2523

±24

bp79

2–54

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

920

10M

AM

S 11

164

unit

B (#

326)

2010

/06

Kur

min

Uw

a 2

1406

±23

bp60

5–66

1 A

DC

harc

oal

–20.

020

10M

AM

S 11

165

unit

C (#

79)

2010

/07

Kus

he 3

2437

±24

bp74

9–40

8 B

CC

harc

oal

–34.

920

10M

AM

S 11

166

50 c

m d

epth

(AB

297

)20

10/0

8K

ushe

724

43±2

7 bp

751–

409

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

3.3

2010

MA

MS

1116

770

cm

dep

th (A

B 2

95)

2010

/09

Kus

uma

2581

±34

bp81

8–55

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–7.7

2010

MA

MS

1116

9un

it 2:

feat

ure

2, 5

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 2

88)

2010

/09

Kus

uma

2516

±32

bp79

4–54

0 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.7

2010

MA

MS

1116

8un

it 1:

feat

ure

2, 5

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 2

62)

2011

/59

Mas

hiki

n D

ando

kaB

omb

C14

Bom

b C

14Pl

ant f

ragm

ent

–29.

420

11M

AM

S 13

641

(#23

2, A

B 4

71)

2011

/59

Mas

hiki

n D

ando

ka10

53±2

6 bp

901–

1025

AD

Cha

rcoa

l–2

4.8

2012

MA

MS

1488

0(#

321,

AB

467

)20

11/6

0M

ashi

kin

Kad

un27

83±2

7 bp

1005

–846

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

3.6

2011

MA

MS

1365

7un

it 2:

20–

40 c

m d

epth

2011

/60

Mas

hiki

n K

adun

2509

±24

bp78

8–54

2 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–12.

820

11M

AM

S 13

642

unit

1: 8

0–10

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 5

94)

2009

/05

Pabe

ki25

20±3

0 bp

795–

542

BC

Penn

iset

um–9

.220

14B

eta–

3836

34un

it 3

(#18

9, A

B 1

67)

2009

/05

Pabe

ki24

14±2

3 bp

729–

404

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

0.6

2010

MA

MS

1074

3un

it 1:

50

cm d

epth

(#27

1)20

09/0

6Pa

ndau

ke23

61±2

8 bp

516–

385

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

5.2

2010

MA

MS

1096

250

cm

dep

th (#

462)

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 279

Site

no.

Site

nam

eC

onve

ntio

nal 14

C

age

in y

ears

bp

Cal

ibra

ted

age

(BC

/AD

) 95

.4%

pro

babi

lity

Mat

eria

l dat

edδ13

C in

‰

Year

da

ted

Lab

orat

ory

no.

Con

text

info

rmat

ion

for

sam

ple

2012

/34

Pang

war

iB

omb

C14

Bom

b C

14Pe

nnis

etum

–15.

120

13M

AM

S 17

858

ston

e ci

rcle

, 25

cm (#

275,

AB

37)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i31

72±1

8 bp

1497

–141

5 B

CSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–15.

920

14M

AM

S 19

307

unit

F: 1

7 cm

, (#4

54, A

B 1

05)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i30

93±1

6 bp

1416

–129

8 B

CC

anar

ium

–26.

320

13M

AM

S 17

851

unit

E: fe

atur

e 12

, 57

cm (#

5017

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

3016

±16

bp13

56–1

211

BC

Penn

iset

um–7

.620

13M

AM

S 17

859

ston

e ci

rcle

, fea

ture

4, 8

6 cm

(#48

7, A

B 4

4)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2985

±40

bp13

81–1

056

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

1.8

2013

KIA

495

09un

it E:

feat

ure

12, 5

5 cm

(#52

24, A

B 7

8)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2973

±19

bp12

60–1

125

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

5.1

2013

MA

MS

1784

5un

it C

: nea

r pot

tery

(ear

ly N

ok),

29 c

m (#

2002

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2940

±30

bp12

57–1

044

BC

Penn

iset

um–8

.620

13K

IA 4

9508

unit

B: f

eatu

re 2

B, 7

3 cm

(#10

13, A

B 4

0)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2826

±17

bp10

25–9

18 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–6.5

2014

MA

MS

1930

3un

it E:

feat

ure

11, 7

4 cm

(#57

94, A

B 1

12)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i27

80±2

1 bp

1001

–848

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

6.3

2013

KIA

495

10un

it E:

feat

ure

12, 8

9 cm

(#59

32)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i26

17±1

5 bp

812–

791

BC

Penn

iset

um–8

.820

13M

AM

S 17

852

unit

E: n

ear f

eatu

re 1

1, 4

8 cm

(#53

46, A

B 7

2)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2610

±17

bp80

4–79

4 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–7.9

2014

MA

MS

1930

6un

it E:

feat

ure

11, 1

53 c

m (#

6636

, AB

126

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2610

±30

bp82

6–77

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.7

2013

Bet

a–34

7870

unit

D: f

eatu

re 9

– lo

wer

leve

l, 12

3 cm

(#37

53, A

B 7

0)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2600

±30

bp82

6–76

3 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–9.4

2013

Bet

a–34

7871

unit

E: fe

atur

e 10

, 53

cm (#

4829

, AB

68)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i25

91±1

8 bp

806–

775

BC

Penn

iset

um–9

.820

14M

AM

S 19

301

unit

D: f

eatu

re 9

, 86

cm (#

3406

, AB

123

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2590

±18

bp80

5–77

4 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

420

14M

AM

S 19

309

ston

e ci

rcle

: fea

ture

4, 1

20 c

m (#

505,

AB

129

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2581

±17

bp80

3–77

3 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–14.

320

14M

AM

S 19

304

unit

E: fe

atur

e 10

, 96

cm (#

6106

, AB

116

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2577

±17

bp80

1–77

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.1

2014

MA

MS

1930

5un

it E:

feat

ure

12, 1

10 c

m (#

6240

, AB

107

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2574

±15

bp80

1–77

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–9.4

2013

MA

MS

1784

2un

it B

: fea

ture

2B

, 77

cm (#

1352

, AB

32)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i25

53±1

6 bp

800–

597

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

9.6

2013

MA

MS

1785

4un

it E:

bet

wee

n fe

atur

e 11

and

12,

171

cm

(#66

48)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i25

45±2

2 bp

799–

556

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

7.1

2014

MA

MS

1930

8un

it F:

find

con

cent

ratio

n, 4

3 cm

(#75

6, A

B 1

04)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i25

24±1

5 bp

790–

553

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

4.8

2013

MA

MS

1785

3un

it E:

eas

t of f

eatu

re 1

0, 1

24 c

m (#

6620

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2510

±16

bp77

6–54

7 B

CC

harc

oal

–23.

720

13M

AM

S 17

855

unit

E: fe

atur

e 11

, 182

cm

(#66

92)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i25

04±1

8 bp

776–

543

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

3.9

2014

MA

MS

1930

0un

it D

: fea

ture

8, 5

0 cm

(#32

42)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i24

90±2

1 bp

770–

540

BC

Penn

iset

um–4

3.8

2013

MA

MS

1784

9un

it D

: fea

ture

9 –

upp

er le

vel,

54 c

m (#

2910

, AB

54)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i24

81±1

6 bp

762–

540

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

3.8

2013

MA

MS

1785

7un

it F:

feat

ure

13, 3

1 cm

(#75

2)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2480

±30

bp77

4–43

4 B

CC

harc

oal

–23.

120

13B

eta–

3478

73un

it E:

feat

ure

10, 9

0 cm

(#61

03)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i24

63±1

8 bp

758–

435

BC

Penn

iset

um–7

.620

14M

AM

S 19

299

unit

B: f

eatu

re 2

B, 4

5 cm

(#11

05, A

B 4

3)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2461

±19

bp75

7–43

1 B

CSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–23.

620

13M

AM

S 17

844

unit

C: n

ear t

erra

cotta

par

t, 28

cm

(#18

08, A

B 4

8)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2450

±30

bp75

4–41

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–13.

020

12B

eta–

3135

0720

11 te

st e

xcav

atio

n (u

nit B

), 60

–80

cm d

epth

(AB

523

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2310

±30

bp41

1–23

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

220

13B

eta–

3478

72un

it E:

feat

ure

11 –

mid

dle

leve

l, 72

cm

(#57

50, A

B 7

3)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2105

±21

bp19

1–54

BC

Penn

iset

um–5

.620

14M

AM

S 19

302

unit

E: fe

atur

e 10

, 54

cm (#

4924

, AB

108

)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

2037

±14

bp93

BC

–5 A

DPe

nnis

etum

–9.0

2013

MA

MS

1785

0un

it D

: fea

ture

8, 5

0 cm

(#32

46, A

B 5

5)20

12/3

4Pa

ngw

ari

971±

14 b

p10

19–1

150

AD

Penn

iset

um–1

9.8

2013

MA

MS

1784

8un

it D

: nea

r pot

tery

(ear

ly N

ok),

36 c

m (#

2698

, AB

56)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i90

4±15

bp

1042

–118

4 A

DSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–26.

320

13M

AM

S 17

856

unit

F: c

harc

oal a

nd te

rrac

otta

, 26

cm (#

289,

AB

77)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i38

3±14

bp

1449

–161

6 A

DSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–13.

020

13M

AM

S 17

843

unit

B: f

eatu

re 3

(pos

sibl

e fir

e pi

t), 3

7 cm

dep

th (#

1357

, AB

39)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i36

5±14

bp

1454

–162

4 A

DSe

ed fr

agm

ent

–25.

420

13M

AM

S 17

846

unit

C: f

eatu

re 6

, 41

cm (#

2051

, AB

50)

2012

/34

Pang

war

i19

9±14

bp

1659

–195

5 A

DC

harc

oal

–22.

920

13M

AM

S 17

847

unit

D: n

ear p

otte

ry (e

arly

Nok

), 14

cm

(#24

21)

2010

/11

Pant

aki 1

3135

±21

bp14

89–1

310

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

6.2

2010

MA

MS

1117

0un

it D

: 30–

50 c

m d

epth

2011

/12

Pant

aki 3

2907

±21

bp11

93–1

015

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

6.8

2010

MA

MS

1117

1un

it A

: 50

cm d

epth

(AB

289

)20

11/1

2Pa

ntak

i 328

74±2

1 bp

1120

–977

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

6.7

2010

MA

MS

1117

2un

it B

: 30

cm d

epth

(AB

286

)20

11/6

2Pu

lu25

12±3

0 bp

791–

541

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–1

7.7

2011

MA

MS

1364

3fu

rnac

e co

ntex

t (A

B 3

50)

2011

/63

Punt

un D

utse

3011

±37

bp13

91–1

126

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

8.3

2011

MA

MS

1362

6un

it E:

are

a Ib

– in

side

ston

e ci

rcle

(#97

7, A

B 4

51)

2011

/63

Punt

un D

utse

2925

±27

bp12

14–1

030

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

6.5

2011

MA

MS

1364

6un

it E:

are

a Ia

– o

utsi

de st

one

circ

le (#

161,

AB

457

)20

11/6

3Pu

ntun

Dut

se29

18±2

6 bp

1209

–102

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–21.

220

11M

AM

S 13

645

unit

E: a

rea

III (

#115

0, A

B 4

54)

2011

/63

Punt

un D

utse

2730

±29

bp92

7–81

4 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–6.3

2011

MA

MS

1362

5un

it D

: 90

cm d

epth

(AB

455

)20

11/6

3Pu

ntun

Dut

se25

80±2

5 bp

810–

598

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

7.0

2011

MA

MS

1364

4un

it B

: 100

cm

dep

th (A

B 4

41)

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016280

Site

no.

Site

nam

eC

onve

ntio

nal 14

C

age

in y

ears

bp

Cal

ibra

ted

age

(BC

/AD

) 95

.4%

pro

babi

lity

Mat

eria

l dat

edδ13

C in

‰

Year

da

ted

Lab

orat

ory

no.

Con

text

info

rmat

ion

for

sam

ple

2011

/64

Rafin

Abu

tu26

61±2

8 bp

895–

795

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

5.5

2011

MA

MS

1364

740

–60

cm d

epth

(AB

486

)20

12/0

4Ra

fin A

dada

24

94±2

1 bp

772–

540

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

8.9

2012

MA

MS

1511

160

–80

cm d

epth

(AB

556

)20

12/1

9Ra

fin D

ako

1829

±20

bp13

0–23

8 A

DPe

nnis

etum

–5.4

2012

MA

MS

1511

350

cm

dep

th (A

B 5

65)

2011

/65

Rafin

Pah

125

46±3

0 bp

801–

549

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

0.8

2011

MA

MS

1364

8un

it 2:

80–

100

cm d

epth

(AB

480

)20

12/2

6Ra

fin P

ah 2

2811

±22

bp10

15–9

06 B

CC

anar

ium

–27.

920

12M

AM

S 15

114

unit

F, 2

0–40

cm

dep

th20

11/0

7Ru

ga F

ulan

i Fur

nace

2555

±27

bp80

3–55

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–19.

520

14M

AM

S 19

312

furn

ace

B, i

nfilli

ng (A

B 1

40)

2011

/07

Ruga

Ful

ani F

urna

ce24

25±2

0 bp

731–

408

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

9.4

2014

MA

MS

1931

0fu

rnac

e A, i

nfilli

ng (A

B 1

39)

2011

/66

Sabo

n Ja

nruw

a27

03±3

1 bp

908–

806

BC

Elai

s–2

4.0

2011

MA

MS

1364

9un

it 2

(#34

1)20

11/6

6Sa

bon

Janr

uwa

2450

±27

bp75

3–41

2 B

CC

harc

oal

–29.

020

11M

AM

S 13

658

unit

1: fu

rnac

e co

ntex

t (#3

86, A

B 3

40)

2011

/67

Taka

Lafi

ya28

48±2

4 bp

1107

–927

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

4.2

2011

MA

MS

136

5080

cm

dep

th (#

2207

, AB

402

)20

11/6

7Ta

ka L

afiya

2723

±27

bp91

6–81

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.5

2012

MA

MS

1487

8fe

atur

e 3

(AB

424

)20

11/6

7Ta

ka L

afiya

2665

±28

bp89

5–79

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–11.

520

12M

AM

S 14

877

feat

ure

4 (A

B 4

08)

2011

/67

Taka

Lafi

ya25

39±2

8 bp

798–

549

BC

Can

ariu

m–2

1.6

2011

MA

MS

1362

7se

dim

ent f

rom

ant

hrop

omor

ph v

esse

l (#3

216,

AB

445

)20

10/1

3Ts

auni

m B

akka

124

93±2

1 bp

771–

540

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

1.2

2010

MA

MS

1117

340

–60

cm d

epth

(AB

282

)20

11/6

8Ts

auni

m G

urar

a 1

2560

±20

bp80

2–59

4 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

320

11M

AM

S 13

651

unit

1: 4

0–60

cm

dep

th (A

B 4

65)

2011

/68

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

125

49±2

6 bp

801–

553

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

6.6

2011

MA

MS

1365

2un

it 2:

40–

60 c

m d

epth

(AB

468

)20

11/6

9Ts

auni

m M

agan

da30

01±2

3 bp

1375

–112

8 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

820

11M

AM

S 13

653

feat

ure

1, 7

0 cm

dep

th (A

B 3

98)

2011

/70

Tudu

n D

osa

2571

±26

bp80

8–59

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–10.

320

11M

AM

S 13

654

unit

2: u

pper

laye

r (#2

51, A

B 3

21)

2011

/70

Tudu

n D

osa

2470

±40

bp76

8–43

0 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.7

2011

Bet

a–29

7286

unit

2: lo

wer

laye

r (#4

95)

2011

/04

Tudu

n K

aura

Bom

b C

14B

omb

C14

Plan

t fra

gmen

t–2

5.7

2011

MA

MS

1438

710

–20

cm d

epth

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a91

77±5

6 bp

8547

–828

5 B

CC

harc

oal

–23.

120

08Er

l–12

293

unit

1: p

it fe

atur

e, 8

0 cm

dep

th (#

81)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a26

27±2

5 bp

830–

788

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

7.9

2011

MA

MS

1366

0un

it 6

(#43

1, A

B 1

23)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a26

20±3

0 bp

831–

775

BC

Penn

iset

um–9

.320

14B

eta–

3826

33un

it 16

(#26

4, A

B 1

21)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a25

80±3

0 bp

814–

590

BC

Seed

frag

men

t–2

3.8

2014

Bet

a–38

2626

unit

5 (#

271,

AB

84)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a25

79±2

0 bp

803–

770

BC

Penn

iset

um–7

.120

12M

AM

S 15

414

unit

6 (#

431,

AB

123

)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2540

±30

bp79

9–54

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–23.

120

14B

eta–

3826

24un

it 1

(#20

2, A

B 6

9)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2540

±30

bp79

9–54

7 B

CC

anar

ium

–26.

020

14B

eta–

3836

27un

it 5

(#42

0, A

B 8

5)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2540

±30

bp79

9–54

7 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–9.5

2014

Bet

a–38

2631

unit

9–2

(#18

99, A

B 1

07)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a25

31±2

1 bp

794–

551

BC

Penn

iset

um–7

.820

11M

AM

S 13

662

unit

16 (#

185,

AB

118

)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2520

±49

bp80

1–48

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.3

2008

Erl–

1229

4un

it 1:

nex

t to

terr

acot

ta h

ead,

80

cm d

epth

(#34

5)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2475

±30

bp77

1–43

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–15.

520

11M

AM

S 13

661

unit

14 (#

419,

AB

120

)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2470

±30

bp76

8–43

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–9.7

2014

Bet

a–38

2628

unit

7 (#

356,

AB

97)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a24

60±3

0 bp

758–

429

BC

Penn

iset

um–8

.420

14B

eta–

3826

29un

it 7

(#43

0, A

B 9

4)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2440

±30

bp75

1–40

8 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–8.9

2012

Bet

a–32

0724

unit

6 (#

431,

AB

123

)20

07/0

1U

ngw

ar K

ura

2410

±30

bp73

9–40

1 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–25.

520

14B

eta–

3848

55un

it 12

(#13

58, A

B 1

14)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a23

74±4

6 bp

748–

371

BC

Penn

iset

um–8

.820

08Er

l–12

295

unit

12: p

it fe

atur

e, 8

0 cm

dep

th (#

634)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a23

60±3

0 bp

536–

383

BC

Penn

iset

um–2

4.4

2014

Bet

a–38

2630

unit

9 (#

684,

AB

99)

2007

/01

Ung

war

Kur

a22

41±5

3 bp

400–

186

BC

Penn

iset

um–1

0.1

2008

KIA

363

67un

it 9:

110

cm

dep

th (#

1764

)20

08/0

5U

tak

Kam

uan

Gar

aje

Kag

oro

2600

±22

bp81

0–77

5 B

CPe

nnis

etum

–12.

720

11M

AM

S 13

655

unit

6 (#

251,

AB

394

)20

08/0

5U

tak

Kam

uan

Gar

aje

Kag

oro

2463

±22

bp76

1–43

1 B

CC

anar

ium

–28.

220

13M

AM

S 16

184

unit

H20

08/0

5U

tak

Kam

uan

Gar

aje

Kag

oro

2463

±30

bp76

3–43

0 B

CC

anar

ium

–35.

520

11M

AM

S 13

659

unit

5 (#

94)

2008

/05

Uta

k K

amua

n G

araj

e K

agor

o23

92±2

7 bp

727–

397

BC

Cha

rcoa

l–2

4,4

2008

KIA

363

68un

it H

, 60

cm d

epth

Tabl

e 1

(end

). A

MS-

radi

ocar

bon

date

s obt

aine

d be

twee

n 20

05 a

nd 2

014

by th

e Fr

ankf

urt N

ok p

roje

ct (n

=174

). In

form

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

umbe

r & n

ame,

con

vent

iona

l 14C

age

and

1-s

igm

a er

ror i

n ye

ars b

p, c

alib

rate

d ag

e (B

C/A

D) w

ith 2

-sig

ma

prob

abili

ty, d

ated

mat

eria

l and

δ13

C v

alue

, lab

orat

ory

num

ber a

nd y

ear o

f dat

ing,

and

con

text

info

rmat

ion

for t

he d

ated

sam

ple

(“A

B”

refe

rs to

the

num

ber o

f the

arc

haeo

bota

nica

l sam

ple,

from

whi

ch th

e da

ted

mat

eria

l was

take

n; “

#” g

ives

the

indi

vidu

ally

reco

rded

find

num

ber)

. The

con

vent

iona

l 14C

age

s are

cal

ibra

ted

with

O

xCal

4.2

, Int

Cal

13 (B

ronk

Ram

sey

2009

; Rei

mer

et a

l. 20

13).

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 281

Site

no.

Site

nam

eA

ge in

yea

rsA

ge r

ange

in c

alen

dar

year

s BC

/AD

Met

hod

Lab

orat

ory

no.

Year

of

colle

ctio

nB

ase

year

Dat

ed m

ater

ial

Rem

arks

2006

/01

Aku

ra28

99±1

7210

64–7

20 B

CO

SL5A

7220

0620

07te

rrac

otta

frag

men

tex

cava

tion

unit

72, 7

0 cm

dep

th20

06/0

9A

kway

a D

aji

2766

±171

930–

588

BC

OSL

4AK

W20

0620

07te

rrac

otta

frag

men

tco

llect

ed fr

om lo

otin

g ho

le20

11/3

8A

nkor

o26

05±1

6075

8–43

8 B

CO

SL2A

NK

2006

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

colle

cted

from

loot

ing

hole

2011

/38

Ank

oro

2390

±248

518–

248

BC

OSL

1AN

K20

0620

07te

rrac

otta

frag

men

tco

llect

ed fr

om lo

otin

g ho

le20

05/0

3A

nzah

Gid

a25

75±1

7974

7–38

9 B

CO

SLK

955

2005

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

rece

ived

from

loca

ls20

05/0

3A

nzah

Gid

a25

67±1

6872

8–39

2 B

CO

SLK

953

2005

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

rece

ived

from

loca

ls20

05/0

3A

nzah

Gid

a24

21±1

8559

9–22

9 B

CO

SLK

957

2005

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

rece

ived

from

loca

ls20

13/0

2B

aide

suru

1750

±100

164–

364

AD

TLM

AL

1012

320

1320

14tu

yère

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e A20

11/4

0D

aji G

wan

a21

00±2

5033

7 B

C–1

63 A

DTL

MA

L 10

090

2011

2013

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

# 19

820

13/1

4D

aji G

wan

a Fu

rnac

e19

00±1

5036

BC

–264

AD

TLM

AL

1012

620

1320

14fu

rnac

e fr

agm

ent

furn

ace A

2013

/14

Daj

i Gw

ana

Furn

ace

1900

±150

36 B

C–2

64 A

DTL

MA

L 10

127

2013

2014

furn

ace

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e B

2013

/14

Daj

i Gw

ana

Furn

ace

1750

±100

164–

364

AD

TLM

AL

1012

820

1320

14fu

rnac

e fr

agm

ent

furn

ace

C20

05/0

1Id

dah

326

81±1

8686

0–48

8 B

CO

SLK

959

2005

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

exca

vatio

n un

it B

, 50

cm d

epth

2009

/01

Ido

700±

7512

38–1

388

AD

TLM

AL

1009

120

1020

13po

tshe

rdte

st tr

ench

2010

/03

Intin

i25

00±2

0068

7–28

7 B

CTL

MA

L 10

095

2010

2013

furn

ace

frag

men

tun

it 6

2013

/15

Janj

ala

Furn

ace

1700

±150

164–

464

AD

TLM

AL

1013

020

1320

14fu

rnac

e fr

agm

ent

furn

ace

B20

13/1

5Ja

njal

a Fu

rnac

e16

50±1

5021

4–51

4 A

DTL

MA

L 10

129

2013

2014

furn

ace

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e A20

13/1

5Ja

njal

a Fu

rnac

e14

50±1

5041

4–71

4 A

DTL

MA

L 10

131

2013

2014

furn

ace

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e C

2013

/03

Kol

in K

uchi

mi

1500

±150

364–

664

AD

TLM

AL

1013

220

1320

14fu

rnac

e fr

agm

ent

furn

ace

B20

05/1

5K

urm

in L

emu

2364

±153

510–

204

BC

OSL

K 9

5120

0520

07te

rrac

otta

frag

men

tco

llect

ed fr

om lo

otin

g ho

le20

09/0

5Pa

beki

1150

±150

713–

1013

AD

TLM

AL

1009

320

0920

13po

tshe

rdun

it 3:

#14

320

06/1

6Po

lway

a23

08±1

4444

5–15

7 B

CO

SL3P

OL

2006

2007

terr

acot

ta fr

agm

ent

colle

cted

from

loot

ing

hole

2011

/07

Rug

a Fu

lani

1950

±100

36 B

C–1

64 A

DTL

MA

L 10

124

2013

2014

furn

ace

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e A20

11/0

7R

uga

Fula

ni16

50±1

0026

4–46

4 A

DTL

MA

L 10

125

2013

2014

furn

ace

frag

men

tfu

rnac

e B

2011

/66

Sabo

n Ja

nruw

a80

0±10

011

13–1

333

AD

TLM

AL

1009

420

1120

13fu

rnac

e fr

agm

ent

unit

1: #

441

2011

/67

Taka

Lafi

ya22

00±2

0038

7 B

C–1

3 A

DTL

MA

L 10

096

2011

2013

vess

el fr

agm

ent

# 36

31

Tabl

e 2a

. Lum

ines

cenc

e da

tes o

btai

ned

by th

e Fr

ankf

urt N

ok p

roje

ct (n

=27)

. Inf

orm

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

umbe

r & n

ame,

age

and

1-s

igm

a er

ror i

n ye

ars,

age

rang

e in

yea

rs B

C/A

D, m

etho

d us

ed (O

SL=o

ptic

ally

stim

ulat

ed lu

min

esce

nce,

TL=

ther

mol

umin

esce

nce)

, lab

orat

ory

num

ber,

year

sam

ple

was

col

lect

ed a

nd d

ated

(bas

e ye

ar fo

r cal

enda

r yea

r cal

cula

tion)

, dat

ed m

ater

ial,

and

cont

ext i

nfor

mat

ion

(“#”

giv

es th

e in

divi

dual

ly re

cord

ed fi

nd n

umbe

r, if

any)

.

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016282

Site

no.

Site

nam

eL

abor

ator

y no

.

Obj

ect

Env

iron

men

tD

e,ß (

fine-

grai

n pa

rtic

les)

[Gy]

a-va

lue

(Dβ/

Dα)

De,

ß (qu

artz

m

iner

als)

[Gy]

Age

in

year

sE

rror

in

year

sΔ

[%]

Th

[μg/

g]U

[μg/

g]K

[%]

Δ [%

]T

h [μ

g/g]

U [μ

g/g]

K [%

]

2013

/02

Bai

desu

ruM

AL

1012

313

17.7

± 0

.42.

9 ±

0.1

2.1

± 0.

0412

12.5

± 0

.43.

8 ±

0.1

1.3

± 0.

048.

9 ±

0.3

0.08

5.2

± 0.

617

5010

020

11/4

0D

aji G

wan

aM

AL

1009

03

6.6

± 0.

24.

1 ±

0.3

1.1

± 0.

21

13.4

± 0

.46.

3 ±

0.4

2.3

± 0.

316

.0 ±

1.5

0.1

10.5

± 1

.521

0025

020

13/1

4D

aji G

wan

a Fu

rnac

eM

AL

1012

615

15.5

± 0

.34.

3 ±

0.1

1.0

± 0.

0329

11.7

± 0

.23.

7 ±

0.2

1.4

± 0.

049.

0 ±

0.4

0.11

5.5

± 0.

519

0015

020

13/1

4D

aji G

wan

a Fu

rnac

eM

AL

1012

710

13.6

± 0

.33.

8 ±

0.2

1.3

± 0.

0416

11.0

± 0

.23.

6 ±

0.2

1.4

± 0.

048.

9 ±

0.6

0.12

5.2

± 0.

818

5015

020

13/1

4D

aji G

wan

a Fu

rnac

eM

AL

1012

814

12.8

± 0

.33.

7 ±

0.2

1.3

± 0.

0413

12.5

± 0

.44.

2 ±

0.2

1.3

± 0.

049.

6 ±

0.4

0.14

5.4

± 0.

417

5010

020

09/0

1Id

oM

AL

1009

12

6.4

± 0.

22.

4 ±

0.2

4.8

± 0.

46

6.8

± 0.

23.

8 ±

0.3

3.7

± 0.

35.

2 ±

0.4

0.14

4.0

± 1.

570

075

2010

/03

Intin

iM

AL

1009

51

27.6

± 0

.64.

9 ±

0.2

1.1

± 0.

13

6.83

± 0

.23.

2 ±

0.2

2.8

± 0.

213

.8 ±

0.7

0.08

11.5

± 0

.325

0020

020

13/1

5Ja

njal

a Fu

rnac

eM

AL

1012

98

16.3

± 0

.35.

3 ±

0.2

0.9

± 0.

0314

12.5

± 0

.46.

0 ±

0.2

0.9

± 0.

03n/

an/

a5.

3 ±

0.5

1650

150

2013

/15

Janj

ala

Furn

ace

MA

L 10

130

158.

3 ±

0.3

5.6

± 0.

21.

4 ±

0.04

169.

6 ±

0.3

4.8

± 0.

21.

3 ±

0.05

7.9

± 0.

50.

15.

3 ±

0.6

1700

150

2013

/15

Janj

ala

Furn

ace

MA

L 10

131

1110

.1 ±

0.3

4.5

± 0.

11.

0 ±

0.04

158.

3 ±

0.3

3.9

± 0.

21.

0 ±

0.05

5.7

± 1.

20.

13.

4 ±

0.7

1450

200

2013

/03

Kol

in K

uchi

mi

MA

L 10

132

1627

.0 ±

0.5

4.3

± 0.

21.

3 ±

0.05

2616

.9 ±

0.3

3.9

± 0.

21.

8 ±

0.07

10.5

± 0

.50.

185.

3 ±

0.44

1450

150

2009

/05

Pabe

kiM

AL

1009

32

34.8

± 0

.74.

5 ±

0.3

2.9

± 0.

2n/

an/

an/

an/

a10

.9 ±

0.2

0.1

8.8

± 1.

111

5015

020

11/0

7R

uga

Fula

niM

AL

1012

412

16.4

± 0

.33.

7 ±

0.1

1.4

± 0.

0411

13.2

± 0

.32.

4 ±

0.1

1.2

± 0.

047.

7 ±

0.5

0.09

5.4

± 0.

519

5015

020

11/0

7R

uga

Fula

niM

AL

1012

510

18.0

± 0

.43.

8 ±

0.1

1.2

± 0.

0411

14.8

± 0

.32.

8 ±

0.1

1.3

± 0.

048.

3 ±

0.8

0.15

5.4

± 0.

616

5010

020

11/6

6Sa

bon

Janr

uwa

MA

L 10

094

1.0

33.5

± 0

.75.

9 ±

0.3

1.1

± 0.

1n/

an/

an/

an/

a8.

2 ±

0.4

0.12

4.0

± 0.

180

010

020

11/6

7Ta

ka L

afiya

MA

L 10

096

215

.3 ±

0.3

4.1

± 0.

21.

7 ±

0.1

313

.0 ±

0.3

4.0

± 0.

23.

2 ±

0.2

14.2

± 1

.00.

0713

.0 ±

2.8

2200

200

2011

/70

Tudu

n D

osa

MA

L 10

092

2.0

8.0

± 0.

23.

1 ±

0.2

3.1

± 0.

25

8.2

± 0.

24.

1 ±

0.2

1.2

± 0.

16.

6 ±

0.3

0.11

6.6

± 0.

925

1050

Tabl

e 2b

. Val

ues o

f the

rmol

umin

esce

nce

mea

sure

men

ts o

n th

e ce

ram

ic o

bjec

ts a

nd th

e en

viro

nmen

tal s

ampl

es p

erfo

rmed

by

the

Kla

us-T

schi

ra-C

entre

in M

annh

eim

, Ger

man

y (M

AL)

.

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 283

Tabl

e 3

(con

tinue

d on

nex

t pag

e). S

ites i

nves

tigat

ed b

y th

e Fr

ankf

urt N

ok p

roje

ct fo

r whi

ch a

bsol

ute

date

s are

ava

ilabl

e (n

=69)

. Inf

orm

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

umbe

r & n

ame,

info

rmat

ion

on

exca

vatio

n, lo

catio

n an

d fin

ds, a

nd a

n ab

solu

te-c

hron

olog

ical

as w

ell a

s a p

otte

ry c

lass

ifica

tion.

Site

nam

e &

nu

mbe

rFo

rm a

nd si

ze o

f exc

avat

ion

Key

ar

eaFi

nds

Chr

onol

ogic

al c

lass

ifica

tion

Pott

ery

Cla

ssifi

catio

n

Aku

ra20

06/0

11

trenc

h (6

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

ls, e

xten

sive

te

stin

g (5

1m2 )

Yes

Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

(axe

), po

ttery

, sla

g,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts,

terr

acot

taM

iddl

e N

ok

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

/ Pan

dauk

e gr

oup

Gim

ba g

roup

Akw

aya

Daj

i20

06/0

9N

ot e

xcav

ated

, find

s col

lect

ed fr

om lo

otin

g ho

les

No

Potte

ry, s

tone

setti

ngs,

terr

acot

ta

Mid

dle

Nok

(bas

ed o

n O

SL o

f te

rrac

otta

frag

men

t)n/

a

Ank

oro

2011

/38

3 tre

nche

s (9

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsN

oB

urnt

cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rrac

otta

(o

nly

surf

ace

finds

)Ea

rly, M

iddl

e N

ok (b

ased

on

OSL

of s

urfa

ce te

rrac

otta

find

s)Pu

ntun

Dut

se g

roup

(in

exca

vatio

n un

its)

Ung

war

Kur

a gr

oup

(sur

face

col

lect

ion)

Anz

ah G

ida

2005

/03

Not

exc

avat

ed, fi

nds c

olle

cted

from

loot

ers

and

loot

ing

hole

sN

oPo

ttery

, ter

raco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

(bas

ed o

n O

SL o

f te

rrac

otta

frag

men

t)n/

a

Bai

desu

ru F

urna

ce

2013

/02

1 tre

nch

(22.

5 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Seve

n fu

rnac

es. C

harc

oal,

iron

obje

ct, p

otte

ry, s

lag,

st

one

arte

fact

s, tu

yère

frag

men

ts

Prob

ably

Nok

(bas

ed o

n 14

C

date

)Pa

ndau

ke g

roup

Cho

ribar

iki

2006

/02

5 tre

nche

s (20

5 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

No

Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

gPo

st-N

okG

imba

gro

up

Daj

i Gw

ana

2011

/40

1 tre

nch

(30

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

380

find

s)Ye

sA

lmos

t com

plet

e te

rrac

otta

. Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts,

terr

acot

taM

iddl

e N

okPu

ntun

Dut

se /

Ifan

a / T

saun

im G

urar

a gr

oup

Daj

i Gw

ana

Furn

ace

2013

/04

1 tre

nch

(29.

25 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Thre

e fu

rnac

es. C

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts,

terr

acot

ta, t

uyèr

e fr

agm

ents

Prob

ably

Nok

(bas

ed o

n 14

C

date

)n/

a

Dak

ko 1

2011

/41

2 tre

nche

s (18

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sB

urnt

cla

y, p

otte

ry, s

lag,

terr

acot

ta (i

ncl.

a do

uble

-hea

d-ed

terr

acot

ta fi

gure

)La

te N

okPa

ndau

ke g

roup

Dam

aisa

220

11/0

8N

ot e

xcav

ated

. Dat

ing

sam

ple

from

20

cm

dept

hYe

sSe

ven

to e

ight

furn

aces

. Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

Post

-Nok

n/a

Dam

ba20

12/1

81

trenc

h (3

0 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 2

900

finds

)Ye

sB

urnt

cla

y, c

harc

oal,

iron

obje

cts,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts

Post

-Nok

Ja

nruw

a gr

oup

Dog

on D

aji 1

2011

/42

2 tre

nche

s (18

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sC

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

lag,

terr

acot

ta, t

uyèr

e fr

agm

ents

Mid

dle

Nok

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

grou

p

Dog

uwa

120

10/0

13

trenc

hes (

66.5

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

790

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Terr

acot

ta h

ead

in tr

ench

1. B

urnt

cla

y, c

harc

oal,

iron

obje

ct, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

ct, p

otte

ry, t

erra

cotta

Ea

rly, M

iddl

e, P

ost-N

ok

Punt

un D

utse

(mos

tly u

nit 3

) / P

angw

ari

(uni

t 1) g

roup

Gim

ba g

roup

Dut

sen

Rem

a20

11/4

41

trenc

h (4

0 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 8

00 fi

nds)

Yes

Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

sPo

st-N

ok

Gim

ba g

roup

Gid

an D

anaz

umi

2010

/02

1 tre

nch

(51

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

600

find

s)Ye

sB

urnt

cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rrac

otta

M

iddl

e N

okTs

auni

m G

urar

a gr

oup

Gim

ba20

11/4

61

trenc

h (4

0 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 1

400

finds

)Ye

sC

harc

oal,

iron

obje

cts,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts

Post

-Nok

G

imba

gro

up

Gon

a K

ishi

mi

2011

/47

1 tre

nch

(16

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sPo

ttery

Post

-Nok

G

imba

gro

up

Idda

h 3

2005

/01

3 tre

nche

s (9

m2 t

otal

) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsN

oC

harc

oal,

potte

ry, t

erra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okPa

ngw

ari g

roup

(spe

cial

ves

sels

)

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016284

Site

nam

e &

num

ber

Form

and

size

of e

xcav

atio

nK

ey

area

Find

s C

hron

olog

ical

cla

ssifi

catio

nPo

tter

y C

lass

ifica

tion

Ido

2009

/01

1 tre

nch

(130

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

110

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Bone

frag

men

ts, b

urnt

clay

, cha

rcoa

l, m

etal

obj

ects,

pot

tery

, sla

g,

stone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta, t

uyèr

e fra

gmen

tsEa

rly, M

iddl

e, P

ost-N

okPu

ntun

Dut

se /

Ido

grou

pG

imba

gro

up

Ifan

a20

11/4

82

trenc

hes (

89 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 1

500

finds

)Ye

sSi

x te

rraco

tta fi

gure

s in

IFA

1. B

urnt

clay

, cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sto

ne

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Ifan

a / P

angw

ari g

roup

Intin

i20

10/0

36

trenc

hes (

75 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 1

400

finds

)Ye

sTw

o fur

nace

s. Bu

rnt c

lay,

char

coal

, iro

n obj

ect,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts,

terra

cotta

, tuy

ère

fragm

ents

Mid

dle

Nok

Ts

auni

m G

urar

a / P

anda

uke

grou

p

Janj

ala A

2006

/03

10 te

st p

its (c

a. 3

0 m

2 )Ye

sCo

mpl

ete

terra

cotta

. Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Pand

auke

gro

up

Janj

ala

Furn

ace

2013

/05

1 tre

nch

(25

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sTh

ree

furn

aces

. Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, sla

g, te

rraco

tta f

ragm

ent,

tuyè

re fr

agm

ent

Prob

ably

Nok

(bas

ed o

n 14C

date

)G

imba

gro

up

Janr

uwa A

2006

/04

6 te

st p

its (c

a. 2

0 m

2 ), ex

tens

ive

test

ing

(ca.

30

m2 )

Yes

Feat

ures

with

terra

cotta

, pot

tery

, sto

ne b

eads

. Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sto

ne a

rtefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okPa

ngw

ari /

Tsa

unim

Gur

ara

grou

p

Janr

uwa

B20

09/0

21

trenc

h (1

20 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 5

00 fi

nds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, ch

arco

al, i

ron o

bjec

t, po

ttery

, sto

ne ar

tefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

eTs

auni

m G

urar

a gr

oup

Janr

uwa

grou

p

Janr

uwa

C20

10/0

41

trenc

h (9

6 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 1

2,00

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

iron

obje

cts,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts

Post

-Nok

Ja

nruw

a gr

oup

Janr

uwa

E20

11/5

0Te

st p

it (6

m2 )

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts.

Exca

vatio

n to

ch

eck

a ge

omag

netic

ano

mal

yPo

st-N

okJa

nruw

a gr

oup

Joh

Mar

i20

06/0

51

trenc

h (1

.5 m

2 )N

oTw

o fu

rnac

es. B

urnt

cla

y, c

harc

oal,

iron

piec

es, s

lag

Late

Nok

n/

a

Kac

ham

a 1

2009

/03

1 tre

nch

(60

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

400

find

s), t

est p

its (5

m2 )

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Kac

ham

a 2

2009

/04

4 tre

nche

s (11

4 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 9

50 fi

nds)

, tes

t pits

(9 m

2 )Ye

sBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

s, po

ttery

, sla

g, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Early

, Mid

dle

Nok

Punt

un D

utse

/ Id

o /P

angw

ari g

roup

Kag

uni 1

2011

/24

Not

exc

avat

ed, fi

nds

colle

cted

fr

om lo

otin

g ho

les

Yes

Potte

ry, t

erra

cotta

Late

Nok

n/a

Kag

uni 2

2012

/01

Not

exc

avat

ed, fi

nds

colle

cted

fr

om lo

otin

g ho

les

Yes

Potte

ry, t

erra

cotta

Mid

dle

Nok

n/a

Kan

gale

2011

/52

3 tre

nche

s (2

2 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Char

coal

, iro

n ob

ject

, pot

tery

, sla

gM

iddl

e, P

ost-N

ok (t

renc

h 2)

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

grou

pG

imba

gro

up

Kas

angw

ai 2

2011

/53

1 tre

nch

(72

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

150

0 fin

ds)

No

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Kol

in K

uchi

mi F

urna

ce20

13/0

32

trenc

hes

(25

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sTh

ree

furn

aces

. Cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, tu

yère

frag

men

tsPr

obab

ly N

ok (b

ased

on 14

C da

te)

n/a

Kud

u 3

2011

/55

1 tre

nch

(15

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sCh

arco

al, p

otte

ryM

iddl

e N

okPu

ntun

Dut

se g

roup

(on

e sh

erd)

/

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

grou

p

Tabl

e 3

(con

tinue

d on

nex

t pag

e). S

ites i

nves

tigat

ed b

y th

e Fr

ankf

urt N

ok p

roje

ct fo

r whi

ch a

bsol

ute

date

s are

ava

ilabl

e (n

=69)

. Inf

orm

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

umbe

r & n

ame,

info

rmat

ion

on

exca

vatio

n, lo

catio

n an

d fin

ds, a

nd a

n ab

solu

te-c

hron

olog

ical

as w

ell a

s a p

otte

ry c

lass

ifica

tion.

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 285

Site

nam

e & n

umbe

rFo

rm a

nd si

ze o

f exc

avat

ion

Key

ar

eaFi

nds

Chr

onol

ogic

al c

lass

ifica

tion

Pott

ery

Cla

ssifi

catio

n

Kuf

ai G

war

i 220

11/0

61

trenc

h (6

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

sM

iddl

e N

okn/

a

Kuf

ai K

uku

220

11/5

71

trenc

h (1

6 m

2 ) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, ter

raco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Kur

min

Lem

u20

05/1

5N

ot e

xcav

ated

, fin

ds c

olle

cted

fr

om lo

otin

g ho

les

No

Potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

ttaM

iddl

e to

Lat

e N

ok (b

ased

on

OSL

of t

erra

cotta

frag

men

t)n/

a

Kur

min

Uw

a 1

2010

/05

1 tre

nch

(60

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

22

00 fi

nds)

Yes

Bur

nt c

lay,

bon

e fr

agm

ents

, cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

, po

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Punt

un D

utse

gro

up (o

ne sh

erd)

/ Pa

ndau

ke g

roup

Gim

ba g

roup

Kur

min

Uw

a 2

2010

/06

3 tre

nche

s (89

m2 t

otal

), to

tal s

ta-

tion

(ca.

650

find

s)Ye

sBu

rnt c

lay,

char

coal

, pot

tery

, sto

ne ar

tefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e, P

ost-N

okPa

ngw

ari g

roup

Janr

uwa

/ Gim

ba g

roup

Kus

he 3

2010

/07

1 tre

nch

(2 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

No

Char

coal

, pot

tery

, sto

ne a

rtefa

cts

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Kus

he 7

2010

/08

1 tr

ench

(7.

5 m

2 ) i

n ar

bitr

ary

leve

lsN

oCh

arco

al, p

otte

ry, te

rraco

tta (i

nclu

ding

com

plet

e hea

d)M

iddl

e N

okPa

ngw

ari g

roup

Kus

uma

2010

/09

2 tre

nche

s (62

m2 t

otal

), to

tal s

ta-

tion

(ca.

120

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, ch

arco

al, p

otte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

(incl

udin

g sm

all h

ead)

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Mas

hiki

n D

ando

ka

2011

/59

1 tre

nch

(ca.

95

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

100

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, ch

arco

al, i

ron

obje

cts,

potte

ry, s

lag,

ston

e ar

tefa

cts

Post

-Nok

Po

ssib

ly P

untu

n D

utse

gro

up (t

wo

sher

ds)

Gim

ba g

roup

Mas

hiki

n K

adun

2011

/60

2 tre

nche

s (2

2 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, ch

arco

al, p

otte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Early

to M

iddl

e N

okPu

ntun

Dut

se g

roup

(MK

_2) /

Tsa

unim

Gur

ara g

roup

(M

K_1

)

Pabe

ki20

09/0

53

trenc

hes (

280

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

500

find

s)Ye

sBu

rnt c

lay,

char

coal

, pot

tery

, sto

ne ar

tefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okPa

ngw

ari g

roup

Gim

ba g

roup

Pand

auke

2009

/06

1 tre

nch

(44

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

50

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta, t

uyèr

e fra

gmen

tsM

iddl

e N

okPa

ndau

ke g

roup

Pang

war

i20

12/3

4 10

tren

ches

(268

1 m

2 tot

al),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

12,

000

finds

). Ex

cava

-tio

n 20

12-2

014

Yes

Terra

cotta

dep

osits

. Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

, po

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Early

, Mid

dle,

Pos

t-Nok

Punt

un D

utse

/ If

ana

/ Pan

gwar

i gro

upG

imba

gro

up

Pant

aki 1

2010

/11

5 tre

nche

s, 1

test

pit

(64

m2 )

in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

, pot

tery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Early

Nok

(bas

ed o

n 14

C d

ate)

Pang

war

i gro

up

Pant

aki 3

2010

/12

2 tre

nche

s (18

m2 )

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, ch

arco

al, p

otte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

fragm

ent

Early

Nok

Pu

ntun

Dut

se g

roup

Polw

aya

2006

/16

Not

exc

avat

ed,

finds

col

lect

ed

from

loot

ing

hole

sN

oPo

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta fr

agm

ents

Mid

dle

to L

ate

Nok

(bas

ed o

n O

SL o

f ter

raco

tta fr

agm

ent)

n/a

Pulu

2011

/62

2 tre

nche

s (3

.5 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 6

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Two

furn

aces

. Bur

nt cl

ay, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry (n

ot d

eco-

rate

d), s

lag,

tuyè

re fr

agm

ents

Mid

dle

Nok

n/

a

Punt

un D

utse

20

11/6

34

trenc

hes

(22.

5 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

; 1 tr

ench

(16

m2 ),

tota

l sta

-tio

n (c

a. 2

000

finds

)

Yes

Burn

t dau

b (w

ith w

attle

impr

essio

ns),

char

coal

, pot

-te

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta (v

ery

few

)Ea

rly, M

iddl

e N

ok

Punt

un D

utse

/ Id

o gr

oup

Janr

uwa

grou

p (o

ne sh

erd)

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016286

Site

nam

e &

num

ber

Form

and

size

of e

xcav

atio

nK

ey

area

Find

s C

hron

olog

ical

clas

sifica

tion

Pott

ery

Cla

ssifi

catio

n

Rafi

n A

butu

2011

/64

1 tr

ench

(18

m2 )

in

arbi

trar

y le

vels

Yes

Char

coal

, pot

tery

, sto

ne a

rtefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okPa

ndau

ke g

roup

Rafi

n A

dada

20

12/0

41

trenc

h (6

m2 )

in ar

bitra

ry le

vels

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

ttaM

iddl

e N

ok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Rafi

n D

ako

2012

/19

1 tre

nch

(4 m

2 ) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

pot

tery

, sla

gPo

st-N

okJa

nruw

a gr

oup

Rafi

n Pa

h 1

2011

/65

2 tre

nche

s (1

8 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Char

coal

, pot

tery

, sto

ne a

rtefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okPa

ngw

ari g

roup

Rafi

n Pa

h 2

2012

/26

2 tre

nche

s (1

0 m

2 ) in

arb

itrar

y le

vels

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

sEa

rly N

ok

n/a

Rug

a Fu

lani

Fur

nace

2011

/07

1 tr

ench

(28

m2 )

in

arbi

trar

y le

vels

, exc

avat

ion

2013

Yes

Two

furn

aces

. Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, sla

g, s

tone

arte

fact

s, tu

yère

frag

men

tsPr

obab

ly N

ok (

base

d on

14

C d

ate)

n/a

Sabo

n Ja

nruw

a20

11/6

62

trenc

hes (

123

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

100

0 fin

ds)

Yes

One

fur

nace

. Bur

nt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, sla

g, s

tone

ar

tefa

cts,

terra

cotta

, tuy

ère

fragm

ents

Mid

dle

Nok

Pang

war

i gro

up

Taka

Lafi

ya

2011

/67

1 tre

nch

(ca.

80

m2 ),

tota

l sta

tion

(ca.

350

0 fin

ds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

ttaEa

rly, M

iddl

e N

okPu

ntun

Dut

se /

Ido

grou

p If

ana

/ Pan

gwar

i gro

upG

imba

gro

up

Tsau

nim

Bak

ka 1

2010

/13

1 tre

nch

(9 m

2 ) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

char

coal

, pot

tery

, sla

g, st

one a

rtefa

cts,

terra

cotta

Mid

dle

Nok

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

grou

p

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

120

11/6

82

trenc

hes

(29

m2 )

in a

rbitr

ary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

char

coal

, pot

tery

, sla

g, st

one a

rtefa

cts,

terra

cotta

M

iddl

e N

okTs

auni

m G

urar

a gr

oup

Tsau

nim

Mag

anda

2011

/69

1 tre

nch

(9 m

2 ) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, po

ttery

, ter

raco

tta (s

urfa

ce fi

nd)

Early

Nok

Punt

un D

utse

Gro

up

Tudu

n D

osa

2011

/70

2 tre

nche

s (5

1 m

2 ), to

tal s

tatio

n (c

a. 6

00 fi

nds)

Yes

Burn

t cla

y, c

harc

oal,

iron

obje

cts,

potte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

ttaM

iddl

ePu

ntun

Dut

se g

roup

(one

sher

d) /

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara g

roup

Gim

ba g

roup

Tudu

n K

aura

2011

/04

1 tre

nch

(6 m

2 ) in

arbi

trary

leve

lsYe

sD

ense

dist

ribut

ion

of m

icro

lithi

c qu

artz

arte

fact

sn/

a, p

ossib

ly L

ater

Sto

ne A

gen/

a

Ung

war

Kur

a20

07/0

116

tren

ches

(46

0 m

2 ), to

tal s

ta-

tion

reco

rdin

g (c

a. 6

200

finds

)N

oBu

rnt c

lay,

cha

rcoa

l, iro

n ob

ject

s, po

ttery

, sla

g, st

one

arte

-fa

cts,

terra

cotta

(not

all

trenc

hes c

onta

ined

find

s)M

iddl

e, L

ate

Nok

Pang

war

i / T

saun

im G

urar

a / P

anda

uke

/ Ung

war

Kur

a gr

oup

Post

-Nok

(one

sher

d)

Uta

k K

amua

n G

araj

e K

agor

o20

08/0

5

2008

: 4 tr

ench

es (c

a. 3

5 m

2 )20

11: 3

tren

ches

(87

m2 ),

tota

l st

atio

n (c

a. 5

00 fi

nds)

No

2008

: sev

eral

depo

sits c

onta

inin

g cha

rcoa

l, sto

nes a

nd la

rge

terra

cotta

frag

men

ts in

oth

erw

ise st

erile

soil

2011

: Bur

nt cl

ay, c

harc

oal, p

otte

ry, s

tone

arte

fact

s, te

rraco

tta

Mid

dle

Nok

Tsau

nim

Gur

ara

grou

pG

imba

gro

up

Tabl

e 3

(end

). Si

tes i

nves

tigat

ed b

y th

e Fr

ankf

urt N

ok p

roje

ct fo

r whi

ch a

bsol

ute

date

s are

ava

ilabl

e (n

=69)

. Inf

orm

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

umbe

r & n

ame,

info

rmat

ion

on e

xcav

atio

n, lo

catio

n an

d fin

ds, a

nd a

n ab

solu

te-c

hron

olog

ical

as w

ell a

s a p

otte

ry c

lass

ifica

tion.

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 287

Site

Lab

orat

ory

no.

14C

age

in

year

s bp

Unc

alib

rate

d ag

e in

cal

enda

r ye

ars

Cal

ibra

ted

age

(BC

/AD

) w

ith 9

5.4%

pro

babi

lity

Con

text

info

rmat

ion

and

cita

tion

Nok

I 145

810

65±1

20 b

p88

5 A

D ±

120

690–

1207

AD

party

car

boni

sed

poun

ding

stic

k, n

o cl

ear r

elat

ion

to N

ok C

ultu

re (F

agg

1965

a)N

okY-

474

1750

±50

bp20

0 A

D ±

50

138–

394

AD

Nok

G (w

ood

from

bla

ck c

lay,

195

6) (B

aren

dsen

et a

l. 19

57)

Nok

Y-14

2-4

2875

±70

bp92

5 B

C ±

70

1262

–856

BC

Nok

D (w

ood

from

sand

ove

rlyin

g ba

sal g

rave

l, 19

51) (

Bar

ends

en e

t al.

1957

)N

okY-

475

4060

±140

bp

2110

BC

± 1

4029

26–2

153

BC

Nok

H (c

arbo

nise

d w

ood

from

sand

and

gra

vel a

t figu

rine

horiz

on, 1

956)

(B

aren

dsen

et a

l. 19

57)

Nok

Y-14

2-3

5490

±85

bp35

40 B

C ±

85

4509

–406

6 B

CN

ok C

(woo

d fr

om b

asal

tin-

bear

ing

grav

el, a

t mai

n fig

urin

e ho

rizon

, 195

1) (B

aren

dsen

et a

l. 19

57)

Nok

Y-14

2-3‘

5660

±90

bp37

10 B

C ±

90

4701

–434

6 B

CN

ok C

(sam

e sp

ecim

en a

s Y-1

42-3

, sen

t sep

arat

ely)

(Bar

ends

en e

t al.

1957

)N

okY-

142-

8>

39,0

00 y

ears

n/a

n/a

Nok

E (c

arbo

nize

d w

ood

from

old

est a

lluvi

um, a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith A

cheu

lian

arte

fact

s, 19

51) (

Bare

ndse

n et

al.

1957

)Ta

ruga

BM

939

222±

40 b

p17

28 A

D ±

40

1524

–195

5 A

DFu

rnac

e 12

(cha

rcoa

l, Sa

mpl

e K

14a2

, K14

a3) (

Bur

leig

h et

al.

1977

)Ta

ruga

BM

532

2042

±126

bp

92 B

C ±

126

377

BC

–219

AD

Furn

ace

4 (c

harc

oal f

rom

with

in a

nd b

elow

slag

hor

izon

, TA

3, sa

mpl

e 3)

(Bur

leig

h et

al.

1977

)Ta

ruga

BM

534

2121

±116

bp

171

BC

± 1

1640

2 B

C–1

21 A

DSq

015

a3, L

ayer

3, N

W q

uarte

r, -9

0 to

-107

cm

(TA

2, S

ampl

e 9,

cha

rcoa

l) (B

urle

igh

et a

l. 19

77)

Taru

gaI-

1459

2230

±120

bp

280

BC

± 1

2074

8 B

C–2

3 A

DTA

Lf 1

961

(Lay

er 3

, 40

cm, c

harc

oal)

(Fag

g 19

65b)

Taru

gaI-

3400

2250

±100

bp

300

BC

± 1

0074

1–41

BC

TA 3

196

7/68

(Fur

nace

2, c

harc

oal f

rom

bel

ow sl

ag la

yer)

(Fag

g 19

69)

Taru

gaB

M 5

3322

69±1

43 b

p31

9 B

C ±

143

771–

2 B

CTA

2 1

965/

66 (S

q 01

5a3,

laye

r 3, c

harc

oal,

NW

qua

rter,

-55

to -9

0 cm

) (B

urle

igh

et a

l. 19

77)

Taru

gaB

M 9

4222

91±1

33 b

p34

1 B

C ±

133

767–

55 B

CFu

rnac

e 4

(see

BM

532

, cha

rcoa

l) (B

urle

igh

et a

l. 19

77)

Taru

gaI-

2960

2390

±140

bp

440

BC

± 1

4081

8–16

6 B

CTA

2 1

965/

66 (S

q 01

5a3,

cha

rcoa

l, 64

cm

, bel

ow I-

1459

, ass

ocia

ted

with

slag

) (Fa

gg 1

968)

Taru

gaB

M 9

4024

88±8

4 bp

538

BC

± 8

479

3–41

1 B

CFu

rnac

e 7

(Sam

ple

K13

a1, c

harc

oal)

(Bur

leig

h et

al.

1977

)Ta

ruga

BM

938

2541

±74

bp59

1 B

C ±

74

814–

428

BC

Furn

ace

1 (S

ampl

e J1

3d1,

cha

rcoa

l) (B

urle

igh

et a

l. 19

77)

Taru

gaB

M 9

4125

41±1

04 b

p59

1 B

C ±

104

894–

402

BC

Loto

D (S

ampl

e N

15d4

, cha

rcoa

l) (B

urle

igh

et a

l. 19

77)

Sam

un D

ukiy

aI-

4913

2160

±95

bp21

0 B

C ±

95

399

BC

–17

AD

Tren

ch H

.11.

d.4

(cha

rcoa

l fro

m lo

wer

par

t of o

ccup

atio

n ho

rizon

) (Fa

gg A

. 197

2)Sa

mun

Duk

iya

I-49

1434

70±1

15 b

p15

20 B

C ±

115

2130

–150

6 B

CTr

ench

H.1

1.d.

4 (c

harc

oal f

rom

bas

al d

epos

it) (F

agg

A. 1

972)

Kat

sina

Ala

BM

535

384±

45 b

p15

66 A

D ±

45

1439

–163

5 A

DC

harc

oal f

rom

a la

rge

mas

s of c

harc

oal i

n N

ok c

ultu

re o

ccup

atio

n la

yer (

Bur

leig

h et

al.

1977

)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

568

2335

±40

bp53

9–23

5 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10j (

Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

829

2340

±120

bp

792–

167

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

q (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

148

823

45±8

0 bp

757–

206

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

u (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

161

623

55±4

0 bp

729–

364

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

i (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

149

524

15±4

0 bp

751–

399

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

s (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

163

024

20±1

20 b

p80

7–21

0 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10o

(Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

558

2430

±40

bp75

3–40

4 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10l (

Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

830

2445

±50

bp75

8–40

8 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10g

(Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

AA

4122

124

68±4

0 bp

767–

430

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

t (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

183

124

90±3

0 bp

781–

511

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

n (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

162

125

00±4

0 bp

793–

486

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

p (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nA

A41

222

2551

±41

bp80

4–54

2 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10h

(Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

496

2605

±80

bp93

0–43

4 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10m

(Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

828

2625

±40

bp89

3–76

6 B

Cch

arco

al fr

om in

terio

r of

Fig

10v

(Bou

llie

r et

al.

2002

/200

3)U

nkno

wn

Pa 1

627

2635

±100

bp

1014

–431

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

r (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

182

626

90±4

0 bp

912–

799

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

k (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Unk

now

nPa

182

727

00±4

0 bp

921–

801

BC

char

coal

from

inte

rior o

f Fi

g 10

w (B

oull

ier

et a

l. 20

02/2

003)

Tabl

e 4.

Rad

ioca

rbon

dat

es fr

om N

ok, T

arug

a, S

amun

Duk

iya,

Kat

sina

Ala

, and

from

terr

acot

ta fi

gure

s exa

min

ed b

y C

. Bou

llier

. Inf

orm

atio

n in

clud

es si

te n

ame,

labo

rato

ry n

umbe

r, co

nven

-tio

nal 14

C a

ge in

yea

rs b

p, u

ncal

ibra

ted

age

in c

alen

dar y

ears

(usi

ng 1

950

as b

ase

year

), ca

libra

ted

age

(BC

/AD

) with

2-s

igm

a pr

obab

ility

(OxC

al 4

.2, I

ntC

al13

), an

d co

ntex

t inf

orm

atio

n an

d ci

tatio

n fo

r the

dat

ed sa

mpl

e.

G. Franke

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016288

Site Sample no.

Age in years

Base year

Age range in calendar years BC/AD

Remarks

Nok 187.c 2530 ± 210 1975 555 BC ± 210 A: figure fragment 187f (Fagg 1990: 139)Jemaa 187.a 2095 ± 180 1975 120 BC ± 180 M: head (Fagg 1990: 120)Jemaa 187.m 2360 ± 210 1975 385 BC ± 210 E: head (formerly from Maitumbi)Jemaa (1) n/a 2480 ± 220 1970 510 BC ± 220 B: Jemaa head, found 1944 (Fagg 1990: 110), first measurementJemaa (2) n/a 2570 ± 230 1970 600 BC ± 230 B: Jemaa head, found 1944 (Fagg 1990: 110), second measurementTaruga 187.o 2215 ± 170 1975 240 BC ± 170 L: arm fragment from excavation (Fagg 1990: 145)Taruga 187.p 2240 ± 185 1975 265 BC ± 185 K: head, from river bed near excavation (Fagg 1990: 145)Taruga 187.Jb 2325 ± 255 1970 355 BC ± 255 G: pottery “grater” from excavationKatsina Ala 187.rl 365 ± 23 1975 1610 AD ± 23 potsherd from 1963 excavationKatsina Ala 187.d 2375 ± 125 1975 400 BC ± 125 C: leg fragment, found 1954Kagara Hill 187.h 2095 ± 190 1975 120 BC ± 190 N: head (Fagg 1990: 150)Kawu 187.k 2335 ± 205 1975 360 BC ± 205 F: head (Fagg 1990: 143)Kuchamfa 187.g 1970 ± 170 1975 5 AD ± 170 Q: fragment of large cylindrical figure (Fagg 1990: 90)Tudun Wada 187.b 2295 ± 190 1975 320 BC ± 190 H: head from a pit (Fagg 1990: 113)Unknown n/a 2460 ± 220 1970 490 BC ± 220 D: complete figure, context unknown (Fagg 1990: 151)Unknown n/a 2025 ± 185 1975 50 BC ± 185 P: female head and body (private collection)Ankiring 187.e 1720 ± 140 1975 255 AD ± 140 R: coarse potsherd (found with figurines, see Fagg 1990: 139)Ankiring 187.f 1580 ± 140 1975 395 AD ± 140 S: figure fragment (found with figurines , see Fagg 1990: 139)Chado n/a 1860 ± 160 1975 115 AD ± 160 V: female figure, sitting on a pot (Fagg 1990: 129)Chado n/a 1605 ± 180 1975 370 AD ± 180 T: head N 840.1 (first measurement, see Fagg 1990: 124)Chado n/a 1520 ± 130 n/a 450 AD ± 130 W: potsherds (from find context)Chado n/a 1505 ± 140 1975 470 AD ± 140 U: “initiation figure”Chado 187.n 1410 ± 135 1975 565 AD ± 135 T1: head N 840.1 (second measurement)Chado 187.x 1425 ± 130 1975 550 AD ± 130 X: associated potsherds and figuresChado n/a 1410 ± 135 n/a 570 AD ± 135 Y: potsherds (from find context)

Table 5. Thermoluminescence dates obtained by A. Fagg, B. Fagg, and J. Jemkur. Information includes site name, sample number, age and 1-sigma error in years, age range in years BC/AD with base year of calculation, and remarks (including the photo reference in Fagg 1990). The dates are taken from Jemkur 2014 and include the amendments made by A. Fagg, as mentioned in the text.

A Chronology of the Central Nigerian Nok Culture

Journal of African Archaeology Vol. 14 (3) Special Issue, 2016 289

SiteSample no.

Luminescence age range BC/AD

Calibrated 14C age range BC/AD

Comment

Akura5A72 1064–720 BC 728–365 BC

Dates overlap between 728 and 720 BC. Pottery, however, suggests a younger age. Since samples come from different excavation units, the dates also may indicate a longer occupation of the site.

Ankoro1ANK, 2ANK

758–438 BC518–248 BC

1530–1316 BC1112–924 BC

Terracotta fragments were collected in 2006 from the slope of a hill. The OSL dates overlap between 518 and 438 BC. Excavation took place in 201 on top of the hill. 14C dates fit the pottery from the excavation. There, no terracotta was found. Dates probably reflect different occupation episodes.

Daji Gwana MAL 1009 337 BC–163 AD

901–796 BC797–543 BC781–511 BC

TL date is at least 200 years younger than 14C dates. Either the TL date is erroneous or the terracotta reflects a later occupation episode.

IddahK959 860–488 BC 796–423 BC Samples come from the same excavation unit and match in age.

Taka Lafiya MAL 10096 387 BC–13 AD

1107–927 BC916–815 BC895–797 BC798–549 BC

TL date on an anthropomorph vessel is at least 200 years younger than 14C dates. Vessel was found in a depth of almost 3 m. 14C dates could indicate a longer occupation phase, which is confirmed by pottery classification. Either the TL date is erroneous or the terracotta reflects a later occupation episode.

SiteSample no.

Luminescence age range BC/AD

Calibrated 14C age range BC/AD

Comment

BaidesuruMAL 10123 164–364 AD 799–556 BC

395–209 BCTL date is younger than 14C date. The few potsherds excavated could be Nok, but are too small for secure identification.

Daji Gwana FurnaceMAL 10126-28

36 BC–264 AD36 BC–264 AD

164–364 AD

787–542 BC54–218 AD

TL dates of three furnaces overlap in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, matching one 14C date. Other 14C date falls in the Nok period. One terracotta fragment was excavated; some small potsherds may be Nok.

Intini MAL 10095 687–287 BC 736–404 BC

703–398 BCTL and 14C dates. Pottery classification puts the site towards the younger end, in the 5th century BC.

Janjala FurnaceMAL 10129-31

164–464 AD214–514 AD414–714 AD

353–93 BC889–994 AD

TL dates of three furnaces overlap. 14C dates vary extremely; neither matches the TL dates. While terracotta fragments were found in two furnaces, the potsherds are similar to pottery inventories in the Common Era.

Kolin Kuchimi MAL 10132 364–664 AD 749–412 BC Dates do not match. No pottery was found.

Ruga FulaniMAL 10124/25

36 BC–164 AD264–464 AD

803–555 BC731–408 BC

While 14C samples date to the Nok period, TL dates are younger, not overlapping. No pottery was found.

Sabon JanruwaMAL 10094 1113–1333 AD 753–412 BC TL date is much younger than the Nok-period 14C date, younger than the

other TL dates as well. TL sample was taken from a depth of only 20 cm.

Table 6. Comparison of luminescence dates for terracotta figurines and radiocarbon dates for the respective sites. Information includes site name and sample number, luminescence and radiocarbon age ranges in calendar years (BC/AD), and comments.

Table 7. Comparison of luminescence dates for furnaces and radiocarbon dates for the respective sites. Information includes site name and sample number, luminescence and radiocarbon age ranges in calendar years (BC/AD), and comments.