New Archaeological research in the Niger and Sirba Valleys (SW Niger)

In 2008 and 2009, new research on the archaeology of the Niger and Sirba River Valleys, SW Niger, was initiated by the German Archaeological Institute in cooperation with IRSH Niamey. This work first involved an extensive survey aiming at locating sites dated to the Iron Age and early historical period and, subsequentely, soundings at sites thought to be especially relevant for the study. The mid-first millennium AD site of Garbey-Kourou, close to the confluence of Sirba and Niger, exemplarily provides an idea of the archaeological potential and high significance of sites in the region, particularily concerning interregional and long-distance contacts. A small glass bead found in a secure archaeological context shows the existence of imports from beyond the desert at a time when North Africa had not yet been conquered by the Arabs. In addition, fragments of clay crucibles from the same context suggest that some kind of metals – copper or gold – was being processed at the site as early as the 6th to early 7th century AD. The paper presents some results of that work and traces perspectives for the next years of research in the region.