Megalithic monumentality in Africa

From graves to stone circles at Wanar, Senegal

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3585170
AutoresLuc Laporte (0000-0002-3476-1145, Université de Rennes, autor de correspondencia), Hamady Bocoum (0000-0003-2916-7253), J-P Cros, Adrien Delvoye (0000-0002-5146-5567, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), R Bernard (0000-0002-8451-5698), M Diallo, M B H Diallo (Cheikh Anta Diop University), M Diop, Mamie Souadou Diop (0009-0000-4961-1353, Cheikh Anta Diop University), Alé Kane (0009-0006-0748-6674, Cheikh Anta Diop University), Dartoi, Vincent Dartois (Université de Rennes), Mathieu Lejay (0000-0002-5867-7394, Université de Rennes), F Bertin (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Laurent Quesnel (Université de Rennes)
Año2012
Volumen86
Número332
Páginas409-427
Fecha de publicación2012-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0003598x00062840
OpenAlexW2218836259
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas15
Referencias citadas7

The World Heritage Site of Wanar in Senegal features 21 stone circles, remarkable not least because they were erected in the twelfth and thirteenth century AD, when Islam ruled the Indian Ocean and Europe was in its Middle Ages. The state of preservation has benefited the exemplary investigation currently carried out by a French-Senegalese team, which we are pleased to report here. The site began as a burial ground to which monumental stones were added, perhaps echoing the form of original funerary houses. Found in a neighbouring field were scoops left from the cutting out of the cylindrical monoliths from surface rock. While the origins of Wanar lie in a period of state formation, the monuments are shown to have had a long ritual use. The investigation not only provides a new context for one of the most important sites in West Africa but the precise determination of the sequence and techniques used at Wanar offers key pointers for the understanding of megalithic structures everywhere

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Context (archaeology · Geography · Islam · Megalith · Period (music · State (computer science · World heritage · African Studies and Geopolitics · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Diverse Cultural and Historical Studies · History