Intra- and Inter-Group Relations in Yoruba Northern Frontier.

Recent archaeological excavations at Ajaba, Osun northeast, one of the Yoruba northern frontiers have thrown light on some aspects of the culture and general ways of life of the people who occupied the abandoned settlement. Ajaba pottery encompasses a variety of decoration motifs highlighting Old Oyo, Ife and Nupe attributes. Pottery from the excavation has thus illuminated aspects of socio-political formation and intra- and inter-group relations between the ancient Ajaba inhabitants and their neighbours. Chronological attribute of Old Oyo pottery was very useful in seriating Igbomina ceramics of which Ajaba’s is a component part. The site has been dated to between 14thand 17th centuries. The presence of some iron objects such as slags, metal pieces, fragments of tuyeres and furnaces do suggest ironworking in the area. Organic materials such as animal bones, snail shells, bivalve, plant seed, palm kernel and (charred and non-charred) provide an insight into subsistence strategies of the inhabitants.