Unknown Artists. Recent studies on the Nok Culture, Central Nigeria.

Since decades the Nok Culture is well known because of its terracotta figurines, representing the earliest sculptural art in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Nok plays a prominent role in the emergence of iron technology, providing some of the earliest evidence of iron smelting in West Africa (500 BC). In contrast to its scientific importance, little archaeological fieldwork has been devoted to the Nok Culture. Since 2005 we are investigating various aspects of the material culture as well as the economical and environmental context, settlement patterns and the chronological development of the Nok Culture. Our team revealed new data which also might throw light on the still enigmatic function of the terracottas.