NDLI: The Holocene Archaeological Sequence of Shum Laka Rock Shelter (Grassfields, Western Cameroon)

Please wait, while we are loading the content...

Book Review: The Origins and Development of African Livestock: Archaeology, Genetics, Linguistics and Ethnography. Edited by Roger M. Blench and Kevin C. MacDonald. University College London Press, London (

African Archaeological Review : Volume 18, Issue 3, September 2001

African Archaeological Review : Volume 18, Issue 2, June 2001

African Archaeological Review : Volume 18, Issue 1, March 2001

African Archaeological Review : Volume 17

African Archaeological Review : Volume 16

African Archaeological Review : Volume 15

African Archaeological Review : Volume 14

The Holocene Archaeological Sequence of Shum Laka Rock Shelter (Grassfields, Western Cameroon)

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Lavachery, Philippe
Copyright Year	2001
Abstract	Until recently the Grassfields (western Cameroon), cradle of the Bantu languages, were an unknown zone from the archaeological point of view. The excavations of Shum Laka rock shelter by de Maret and his team brought the most complete sequence in West Africa, spanning the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. After 20 millennia of microlithic tradition (Late Stone Age), a new culture, with macrolithic tools, polishing and pottery (Stone to Metal Age), slowly developed ca. 7000 B.P. onwards. From this early period on, forest hunting was associated with the exploitation of Canarium schweinfurthii. Around 4000 B.P., an industry with waisted axes, blades, and pottery had emerged. With a striking technological continuity, this culture survived throughout the Iron Age. Increasing importance and diversity of trees exploited through the “Stone to Metal Age” and the Iron Age suggests “arboriculture.” Regional comparisons show that, between 5000 and 2500 B.P., an original culture developed in the Grassfields and the Cross River basin.Jusqu'à récemment, les Grassfields (Cameroun occidental), berceau des langues bantoues, étaient inconnus d'un point de vue archéologique. Les fouilles de l'abri de Shum Laka par de Maret et son équipe permirent d'établir la plus complète séquence d'Afrique occidentale, embrassant la fin du Pléistocène et l'Holocène. Après 20,000 millénaires de traditions microlithiques (Age de la Pierre Récent), une nouvelle culture, caractérisée par l'apparition d'outils macrolithiques, de polissage et de poterie (Age de la Pierre au Métal), se développe lentement à partir de 7000 B.P. Dès le début, la chasse en forêt est associée à l'exploitation de Canarium schweinfurthii. Vers 4000 B.P. une industrie avec haches à gorge, lames et poterie a émergé. Dans une continuité technologique surprenante, cette culture survivra à l'Age du Fer. L'arboriculture est suggérée par l'importance et la diversification des arbres exploités durant l'Age de la Pierre au Métal et l'Age du Fer. Des comparaisons régionales montrent que, entre 5000 et 2500 B.P., une culture originale se développe dans les Grassfields et le bassin de la Cross River.
Starting Page	213
Ending Page	247
Page Count	35
File Format	PDF
ISSN	02630338
Journal	African Archaeological Review
Volume Number	18
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	15729842
Language	English
Publisher	Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers
Publisher Date	2001-01-01
Publisher Place	New York
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Regional and Cultural Studies Anthropology/Archaeometry Archaeology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Archeology Archeology (arts and humanities)

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

On Microlithic Quartz Industries at the End of the Pleistocene in Central Africa: The Evidence from Shum Laka (NW Cameroon)

Early Settlement and Archaeological Sequence of Northeast Yorubaland

Holocene Palaeoclimates of Africa

Holocene Deposits of Saharan Rock Shelters: The Case of Takarkori and Other Sites from the Tadrart Acacus Mountains (Southwest Libya)

Holocene Climatic Changes and Cultural Dynamics in the Libyan Sahara

Who Lived in Mauermanshoek Shelter, Korannaberg, South Africa?

"Battered Bulls": Rock Art Destruction in Egypt

Social Dynamics and Pottery Distribution in the Faro Department, Northern Cameroon

Southwest Arabia During the Holocene: Recent Archaeological Developments

The Holocene Archaeological Sequence of Shum Laka Rock Shelter (Grassfields, Western Cameroon)

Similar Documents

On Microlithic Quartz Industries at the End of the Pleistocene in Central Africa: The Evidence from Shum Laka (NW Cameroon)

Early Settlement and Archaeological Sequence of Northeast Yorubaland

Holocene Palaeoclimates of Africa

Holocene Deposits of Saharan Rock Shelters: The Case of Takarkori and Other Sites from the Tadrart Acacus Mountains (Southwest Libya)

Holocene Climatic Changes and Cultural Dynamics in the Libyan Sahara

Who Lived in Mauermanshoek Shelter, Korannaberg, South Africa?

"Battered Bulls": Rock Art Destruction in Egypt

Social Dynamics and Pottery Distribution in the Faro Department, Northern Cameroon

Southwest Arabia During the Holocene: Recent Archaeological Developments

The Holocene Archaeological Sequence of Shum Laka Rock Shelter (Grassfields, Western Cameroon)