The Archaeology and Ethnography of Lobi Figurines

  • Author: Malik Sarko Mahmud
  • Topic: Ethno-archaeology,Theory and method
  • Country: Ghana
  • Related Congress: 13th Congress, Dakar

The tradition of producing sculptured wooden figurines is practiced among the Lobi in northwestern Ghana today. Ethnographic survey in Birifo-Sila Yiri in 2008/2009 provided evidence of their usage in shrines and the use of wooden sculptures as lesser deities. An excavation conducted on an abandoned house mound provided stratigraphic and contextual data on the architectural and burial practices, as well as chronology for the settlement. The data from the excavations is used to compare with that from other ancient sites associated with figurine sculptures in West Africa.


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