An Attribute Analysis.Of Archaeological Beads from Shanga, Northern Kenya Coast

\ u AN ATTRIBUTE ANALYSIS.OF ARCHAEOLOGICALJEADS FROM SHANGA, NORTHERN KENYA COAST // BY v / KUFWAFWA J HUKHWANA / ' jOEPTED HAS b e e n cal8 THESIS A Thesis submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology in the Department of History at the University of Nairobi \ \ \ DECLARATION \ This thesis is my original work and has not been submitted This thesis has been submitted for examination with my approval as University supervisor / DR. HENRY W. MUTORO v» \ \ \ To Kufwafwa and Munyite \ \ * s> TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements vi Abstract \ vi 1 \ List of Tables \ v 111 List of Figures \ ix \ CHAPTER ONE: BEAD MATERIALS AND USES OF BEADS Introduction .1 Bead Material 3 Uses of Beads (j Summary and Conclusion \ 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THE PROBLEM Literature Review 1 5 The problem 20 Summary and Conclusion 2(3 CHAPTER THREE: THE STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY Introduction 27 The Study Area 2 7 Peoples 28 Climate and Vegetation 28 The Nature of the data base 30 Reasons for choosing Shanga site 3 3 V* Methodology 3 5 Library or Archival Research 3(3 Museum BeajF'Collection 30 Sampling Procedures 36 X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis 10 Ope rat ionai l)e fin i t i ons 12 Summary and Conclusion 50 CHAPTER FOUR: BEAD ATTRIBUTES OF SHANGA Introduction ' 51 Raw-Materials 51 Shapes and Sizes 59 Decorative Techniques and Motif 61 Colour 67 X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis 69 Results 71 • - Summary and Conclusion 75 CHAPTER FIVE: DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS Introduction 77 Raw-Material 77 Shapes 80 Colour 83 Decorations 81 Techniques of ]Manufacture 85 Correlation of the Shanga Beads with the Archaeological Periods \ 88 Recommendation . ) 91 Conclusion ’ 92 Appendix 93 Bibliography 122 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1 wish to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to my supervisor Dr. Henry W. Mu loro for h i s untiring effort to bring I h i s study to a • ■ one I u s i on . Ilis detailed and •'•on s t rue I i \ e criticism are highly apprecialed. I also express my gratitude particularly to the following in si i tul. ions and ind i viduals : National Museums of Kenya, (Fort Jesus and Lamu), the Bril ish Inst itute in Eastern Africa (B.l.E.A. ) and Dr*. Mark Horton for grant ing me permission to analyse the bead col loot ions used in this research. 1 am very grateful also to all who offered their valuable lime to make this study a success. This specifically goes to the technical staff at the Centre of Nuclear Science, University of Nairobi for X-Ra\ Fluorescence .analysis of my bead samples. Much thanks go t o C; i l.horl Ot eyo of B. I .E.A. for drawing the various shapes of beads used in this study. I deeply appreciate the cooperation and hospitality 1 received from Ms Johari Isaa Loo and Dr. George Abimgu when -analysing bend data at the ( oast. J am greatly indebted to Miss Sarah M. Knmau for her "id Iring effort , patience in typing this thesis. t let a huge banquet fly for my beloved wife Beatrice Nechessa for her patience and understanding during the whole course of my siudv. Finally, I am very grateful to tire University of Nairobi for •j of fering me a sebbJarship and 'research funds in Archaeology which ■* <. was very necessary for this post-graduate course. vi ABSTRACT This study is concerned with an attribute analysis of archaeological beads from Shanga site. From the written documents, it is evident that questions pertaining to bead analysis and interpretation have been inadequately studied by previous archaeologists, yet- with the exception of pottery, beads constitute the commonest class of artifacts on the coastal settlement sites in Kenya. As one of the most valuable chronological indicators available, beads provide some of the best archaeological evidence for dating archaeological sites and commercial items. In this analysis Shanga beads are studied in terms of raw materials, 'manufacturing techniques, shapes, sizes, decorative motifs and colours. An X-ray fluorescence analysis of the inorganic bead material samples is also made to throw some valuable insight about the nature of raw materials used in bead manufacture by past commuriiti.es on Shanga settlement. The findings show that a wide variety of raw-material were used in the manufacture of beads. It also showed that different coJ our-s, sizes, shapes and techniques were used i ri the manufacture of beads. All these apparent ly were based on the functions they served and the customers taste. list of figures Figure 1 - Archaeological bead sites • l F Lgurr Lt«1 - Chemical groups of glass beads CM •~ * F i 511 re 3 - Location of study area 29 F igure i - Local ion of Shanga site 31 Figure 5 - Measurements of beads 13 F l gu re c. - Cylinder bead 1 7 F i ui!i re 7 - barrel bead 1 7 F i mi r e 8 - bicone bead 1 7 F i gure 9 - Spheroid bead 1 7 Figure 10 - Disc bead 1 7 F i gur e 1 1 - Ring bead I 7 F i ft u re 1 2 - Ob 1 a t e bead I 7 F i mi re 13 - El 1 ipso id bead 1 7 Fi gure J 1 - P i ri form bead 1 7 Fi f? u re 1 5 - Longitudinally Segmented bead J 7 F i.mire 1 6 - Raw - ma t e r i a .1 s pe rce n t a g e 58 F i m 1 re 1 7 - XRF Analysis of glass bead 7 1 Fi gure 1 8 - XRF Ana1ys i s 0 f Carnelian bead 71 Figure 19 - XRF Analysis of terracotta bead 72 F j mi re 2 0 - XRF Analysis 0f crysta1/quartz bead 7 2 F i g u r e 21 - XRF Analysis of alabaster bead 7 3 F i sure 22 - Roetangu1 a r bead 8 1 F igu |*e 20 - bar re 1 'melon ' 1 >0 a d 8 l F i mi re 2 1 - Tubular bead 8 1 F i. mi re 2 5^ /- Hexagonally faceted cy 1inder 81 c F i g 11 r 0 2 0 - Truncated bieone bead 8 1 F i.mire 27 - Pricked pattern bead 81 F i gurp 28 - Stratified aye bead 82 vJ Fi gure 29 - Longitudinally pierced bead 8 2 F i gu re 3 0 - Cy1 i nder head with black bands 8 2 F i gure 31 - F1 a 1 toned cyi inder bead 82 Figure 3 2 - Hu 11 on shape< 1 1 ir-'nrl 8 2 / OF TABLFS Ta HI a 1 - Bead raw-mat oj-i \ 1 s « ■» 1 central r i i ! s i t e s J 9 Tab l e 2 - Bead rnw-rna tr> ?•i a 1 s A- co 1 onr o 1 1 akwa site 2 2 Tab to 3 - S 1 ra t i graphi r level and heads 3 2 Tab 1 e 1 - Decora! ive mol i Is 0 7 Tab 1 e f> - I'nloue, Pe la-op 1 ages on Number of Beads 0 7 Ta hie r. - Quanti l ativo aRF Analysis of bead samples 70 vi AIMH KVI AT IONS B.J.E.A. British Institute jn Eastern Africa «J. A . 11. Journal of African History I.J.A.II. International Journal of African History v X / v. INTRODUCTION :BEAD MATERIALS AND USES OF BEADS Beads are minute objects, made from organic and inorganic materials, which are pierced for stringing together before being worn by people as ceremonial or as aesthetic objects ( Bozrnan 1907). The number of beads on a string varies according to the size of the body part to which they are worn. Most contemporary and archaeological beads are characterized by geometric patterns, decorations and perforations at the centre or at the extreme end of the beads, In Africa, the earliest beads to be recovered from an archaeological site are from Lukenya Hills, Kenya. They were dated to 17,000 B.P.tGrainly 1970). Elsewhere in East Africa, beads made from different raw-materials have been excavated at a number of sites in the interior. For example at Njoro River cave, beads have peen recovered and dated to 1.5,000 B.P. (Leakey I9d5, Leakey and Leakey 1950). At Lamek (Ngamuriak), beads were found and dated to 2.000 B.P. (Merrick 1975). From other archaeological sites in Africa beads have also been excavated. For instance, Ostrich egg-shell beads were recovered from (die site of Haua Fte.auh in Libya. They have been dated to 10.000 B.C. (Dubin 1987). Glass beads dating to 100 B.C. have also j been found in the Sudan. From the sites of Djenne Jino in Mali and TANGIER LUXOR G old and Ivory Beads 2000 BC to the present Carnelium Agate and Beads from India to East A frica and South A frica AD 1000 to the present INDIAN OCEAN -> Trade Rout<2. CAPE TOWN • Present day City A Archaelogical sites: Bead making and Distribution centre \j^r— i Movements ot beads and bead materials Fig. 1 Bead Materials. Distribution Patterns and A rchaeological sites (SOURCE: DUBIN 1987 ) Glass Beadmaking 20^ Century AD 2 excavated (Dubin 1987), (see fig. 1) BEAD MATERIALS Beads are made from a variety of raw-materials. These include organic and inorganic materials. Organic materials consist of nuts, teeth, bones, tusks, seeds, tree resin (amber), bird egg shell, fish bone and coral. Nut beads especially those of dhoum and coconut palm are highly prized in some West African communities.

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