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This is the complete lecture note for ARC302 Prehistory of West Africa and the Sahara. You can read it online below, open it in the full viewer, or download the PDF for offline study. It pairs with the course's video lectures, so you can read and watch together.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS ARC 302: Prehistory of West Africa and the Sahara (3 Units C: LH 45) Course Code: ARC 302 Course Title: Prehistory of West Africa and the Sahara Course Unit: 3 Units C Series 1: West African Palaeoenvironments and Archaeological Development Series 2: Anglophone and Francophone Traditions in West African Archaeology Series 3: Stone Age Sequences in West Africa and the Sahara Series 4: Food Production and Metallurgy in West Africa and the Sahara Series 5: Complex Societies, Trade, and Heritage in West Africa Series 1 West African Palaeoenvironments and Archaeological Development Series Outline • Part 1.1 West African palaeoenvironments o 1.1.1 Climatic changes and environmental shifts o 1.1.2 Impact on human adaptation and settlement • Part 1.2 Early explorations and colonial influences o 1.2.1 Role of explorers and antiquarians o 1.2.2 Colonial perspectives on archaeology • Part 1.3 Growth of archaeological institutions and research traditions o 1.3.1 Establishment of universities and research centres o 1.3.2 Contributions of African scholars • Part 1.4 Key themes, challenges, and prospects
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS o 1.4.1 Methodological approaches and innovations o 1.4.2 Contemporary challenges and future directions Introduction The prehistory of West Africa is deeply shaped by its environmental background and the development of archaeology as a discipline. Climatic changes influenced human adaptation and settlement, while the growth of archaeology provided the frameworks to interpret these transformations. Understanding these foundations is essential for appreciating how scholars reconstruct the past. The aim of this Series is to explain the palaeoenvironmental conditions of West Africa and to trace the development of archaeology in the region, highlighting early explorations, institutional growth, and contemporary challenges. We shall commence this Series by examining West African palaeoenvironments, focusing on climatic changes and their impact on human adaptation. Next, we will move on to early explorations and colonial influences, considering how they shaped archaeological perspectives. Afterwards, we will continue with the growth of archaeological institutions and research traditions, highlighting the contributions of African scholars. Finally, we will conclude with key themes, challenges, and prospects, exploring methodological approaches, innovations, and future directions. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 define West African palaeoenvironments and explain major climatic changes, • SLO 1.2 analyse how environmental shifts influenced human adaptation and settlement, • SLO 1.3 describe the role of early explorers and colonial influences in West African archaeology,
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS • SLO 1.4 evaluate the growth of archaeological institutions and the contributions of African scholars, • SLO 1.5 explain key methodological approaches in West African archaeology, and • SLO 1.6 assess contemporary challenges and prospects for archaeological development in the region. 1.1 West African Palaeoenvironments 1.1.1 Climatic changes and environmental shifts Palaeoenvironment refers to the ancient environmental conditions that shaped human existence in the past. In West Africa, climatic changes such as fluctuations between wet and dry periods influenced vegetation, water availability, and the spread of deserts and savannahs. These shifts determined where people could live, farm, or hunt. Archaeologists use evidence from sediments, pollen analysis, and geomorphology to reconstruct these environments. Such studies reveal that the Sahara was once greener, supporting rivers and lakes, before becoming the desert we know today. Short description: Diagram showing climatic changes in West Africa (wet and dry phases, Sahara expansion). Caption: Figure 1.1 Climatic changes in West Africa
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Fill in the blank: Archaeologists use evidence from sediments and ______ analysis to reconstruct ancient environments. 1.1.2 Impact on human adaptation and settlement Environmental shifts had a direct impact on human adaptation. Communities moved closer to rivers and lakes during dry phases, while wetter periods allowed for farming and larger settlements. The spread of savannahs encouraged hunting and herding, while desertification forced migration and innovation in survival strategies. These adaptations show the resilience of human societies in West Africa. By studying settlement remains, archaeologists can trace how people responded to changing conditions, revealing the close relationship between environment and culture. Box 1.2 Human adaptation to palaeoenvironmental changes Adaptation Strategy Environmental Driver Societal Response Migration Desertification and "desiccation" (drying) of the Sahara. North-to-South Movement: Populations moved from the drying Sahara into the more fertile Middle Niger and Lake Chad basins. Farming Unreliable wild grain harvests during dry spells. Domestication: The transition from foraging to the cultivation of drought-resistant crops like Pearl Millet and African Rice.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Adaptation Strategy Environmental Driver Societal Response Herding Shifting grasslands and the movement of Tsetse fly belts. Pastoralism: Moving livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) to track seasonal rains, developing "Transhumance" routes. Settlement Shifts Changing water levels in river valleys and inland deltas. Aggregation & Urbanization: Small, scattered camps merged into larger, permanent settlements (e.g., Dhar Tichitt, Jenné-jeno) near reliable water sources. Fill in the blank: The spread of savannahs encouraged hunting and ______ as survival strategies. Pilot questions 1.1 1. What does palaeoenvironment mean? 2. Mention one method archaeologists use to reconstruct ancient environments. 3. How did climatic changes affect settlement in West Africa? 4. Give one example of human adaptation to environmental shifts. 5. Why is studying palaeoenvironments important in archaeology? 1.2 Early Explorations and Colonial Influences 1.2.1 Role of explorers and antiquarians Early interest in West African archaeology was often driven by explorers and antiquarians, individuals who collected artefacts and recorded observations during their travels. These figures
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS were not professional archaeologists in the modern sense, but their notes and collections provided some of the earliest records of West African material culture. Their work was shaped by curiosity, trade, and colonial expansion. While they sometimes preserved valuable information, they often removed artefacts without proper documentation, leading to gaps in the archaeological record. Short description: Illustration showing explorers collecting artefacts in West Africa. Caption: Figure 1.3 Early explorers and antiquarians in West Africa Fill in the blank: Early explorers and antiquarians often removed artefacts without proper ______, creating gaps in the record. 1.2.2 Colonial perspectives on archaeology During the colonial period, archaeology in West Africa was influenced by political and economic agendas. Colonial administrators often viewed artefacts as trophies of empire, emphasising their value for European museums rather than for local communities.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS This perspective shaped excavation methods and interpretations, with colonial scholars frequently imposing European frameworks on African history. As a result, indigenous voices and cultural contexts were marginalised. Today, archaeologists critically examine these colonial legacies to ensure more inclusive and ethical practices. Box 1.4 Colonial perspectives on archaeology in West Africa Perspective/Practice Description Impact on Heritage Artefact Removal The systematic extraction of cultural objects for European museums and private collections. Heritage Loss: Decontextualization of objects like the Benin Bronzes, stripping them of their spiritual and social functions. European Frameworks The application of European historical timelines and categories to African sites. Distorted Narratives: Failure to recognize unique African developmental paths, often forcing them into "Stone Age" or "Iron Age" labels defined by Europe. Marginalisation The exclusion of indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, and local scholars from the research process. Silenced Voices: Creation of a "top-down" history where local communities were viewed as laborers rather than intellectual partners.
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