Ancient Terracotta Figures from Northern Nigeria
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Ancient Terracotta Figures from Northern Nigeria frederick john lamp Something was definitely afoot around 1000 Nok, the name of the village where the b.c.e. in Nigeria—in the quadrangle framed first ancient Nigerian terracotta figure was by the Niger River to the west, the Benue found in 1928, has become the label for thou- River to the south, the Jos Plateau to the east, sands of terracotta figures found throughout and the Sokoto River to the north—at the an area of one hundred square kilometers in edge of what is now the Sahara. What we central Nigeria that extends both north and know about the civilizations that were form- south of the Benue River, through the west- ing there comes mainly from terracotta sculp- ern edge of the Jos Plateau, and almost to the ture found initially by accident in the context Niger River. The first objects discovered were of surface mining for alluvial tin deposits. found in the 1920s, in tin mines under seven No written records have come to light, either or eight meters of sedimentary sand and in any indigenous form or in the vast histor- gravel; only a little surface excavation was ical literature of ancient Egypt, Greece, or carried out there. Nevertheless many objects Rome.1 Islamic scholars from the tenth cen- were collected under the auspices of the Jos tury focused on the empires of Ghana and Museum, which was established by Bernard Mali. By the fourteenth century, Arabic Fagg in 1952. These objects are indisputably visits had been made to Timbuktu, but they original, and they have undergone laboratory revealed no record of these cultures east of tests that serve as the main basis for what we the Middle Niger, which presumably had currently know about their period.2 A team been gone for a thousand years. Today, these from the Goethe University’s Institute for cultures are referred to by the present-day Archaeological Research in Frankfurt is names of one small village in the south and currently investigating the site. Dating for two states in the north: Nok, Sokoto, and Nok objects continues to be pushed back Katsina, respectively. The state of Nigeria, as objects are tested, now with early dates of course, did not exist until the colonial extending from the ninth century b.c.e. to period; it was established in 1900. as late as 700 c.e.3 Many of the discoveries made in archaeological surveys were found in proximity to iron smelting sites that date 4 Fig. 1. Male Figure (fragment), Nok, Nigeria, 900 at least to the fifth century b.c.e. Since so b.c.e.–500 c.e. Terracotta, 22¾ x 12 x 11 in. (57.8 x many of these objects exhibit intricate deco- 30.5 x 27.9 cm). Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of ration that must have been prestigious, it is SusAnna and Joel B. Grae, 2010.6.132 believed that most Nok figures, both male 48 49 and female, represent important political tary, with only the bust remaining, and the A collection of sixty-four figural sculp- leaders. Other Nok sculptural subjects heads are often life-sized or even larger than tures from these cultures of ancient Nigeria include disease and animals such as monkeys, life. How large the full figures would have was given to the Gallery in 2010, as part of a bats, felines, elephants, snakes, and possibly been is difficult to say—presumably the com- donation of 243 objects from SusAnna and rams. Almost all terracotta figurines have mon West African proportion of one to three Joel B. Grae. Other sculptures in terracotta been found broken, suggesting a ritual pro- or four (the relation of the head to the body) and stone represent the somewhat later cul- cess of destruction.5 would have prevailed, but even if this is the ture of Bura, which was located further up Characteristic features of the Nok style case, many of these full figures would have the Niger River in present-day Niger. Most are outlined, semicircular, pierced eyes; open been enormous. of these objects were in fragments that were mouths; and elaborate braided and bunned Katsina State is on the trade routes reassembled with no attempt at restoration coiffure for both male and female figures. between the ancient city of Kano and the or camouflage, as is common in other col- Several styles of Nok facial features have been Sahara. It is closely linked with Sokoto, lections. The Graes wanted no deception distinguished, and all these styles are found and terracotta objects coming from these that would interfere with the possibility of throughout the region of discovery, suggest- areas without provenance are difficult to research. Rustin field-collected the objects ing that they do not represent regional attribute precisely to one state or the other. personally in northern Nigerian villages in aesthetics, but rather indicate some other Furthermore the dating of these objects is the 1950s and 1960s during his visits to distinction, perhaps schools of fabrication encumbered by the fact that no controlled Nnamdi Azikiwe, who became president that had wide distribution. The consistency archaeological excavations have been carried of Nigeria at independence. of these artistic conventions, lasting more out. A period of three hundred years, from One of the most fascinating and largest than a thousand years, suggests a kind of 200 b.c.e. to 100 c.e., has been suggested, figures in the collection of Nok terracottas centralization of this society, in which ideas but this is guesswork based on a very sparse is a male torso with a bearded head turned were shared widely and agreed on.6 The sample, with no stratigraphy on which to slightly to its right, its right arm (now lost) objects with the earliest dates are of fully rely. It seems that most figures from Katsina seemingly once uplifted, as if it were in matured fluorescence, suggesting that the were originally attached to the top of globu- the act of hurling a spear (fig. 1). Multiple period of artistic activity in question began lar jars and were perhaps funerary markers. strands of necklace beads are depicted around much earlier, and that the period of habita- Figures commonly are seated with hands rest- the neck and shoulders and covering the tion and civilization of these people began ing on the knees and faces that are relatively upper chest above sagging pectorals; from before that. But to locate these dates with naturalistic, with caps on the head. these strands, four long tubular ornaments, any specificity, we will need to wait for the The works of these three areas, while possibly representing iron bells, are sus- results of the archaeological excavations suggesting distinct polities, also bear many pended. Around the waist are more strands still under way. similarities. Nok, Sokoto, and Katsina all of beads, and although what was below the Sokoto State is in northwest Nigeria in produced very large, hollow, thin-walled, waist is now lost, it probably displayed more the Niger River Valley, at the confluence of low-fired, terracotta human sculptures in ornamentation, including a breechclout or ancient trade routes. Little is known of the similar postures and bearing like ornamenta- penis sheath, as is commonly found in simi- ancient culture, as there has been no con- tion, many with heads close to life-sized. The lar works. Around the proper left side of the trolled archaeological investigation. Bayard medium used throughout is earthenware figure, hanging from the right shoulder, are Rustin, the civil rights leader of the 1950s and mixed with quartz and mica for tenacity, sur- what seem to be strands of fiber or leather 1960s who originally collected most of the faced with a slip of ocher or mica schist and forming a strap from which are suspended Yale University Art Gallery’s ancient terra- burnished with a smooth pebble to achieve a three small containers, possibly meant to cotta figures in Nigeria, reported that “the fine finish.8 Quite a few sculptures from each hold medicine, as one sees in later West Afri- Sokoto and Katsina pieces were found in of these groups share stylistic similarities. We can sculptures. Elaborate ornamental bands 7 large man-made mounds.” From scientific have a vague idea of the limits of the Nok are found around the left arm at the shoul- Fig. 2. Male Figure with Arms Upraised, Nok, Nigeria, dating, the culture appears roughly contem- geographical area, but we have very little idea der, the elbow, and the wrist. The figure may 900 b.c.e.–500 c.e. Terracotta, 21½ x 7 x 7 in. (54.6 x porary with Nok to the south, suggesting a about ancient Sokoto and Katsina, where no represent a military leader—one is tempted 17.8 x 17.8 cm). Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of period from 500 b.c.e. to 200 c.e. Character- collection data has been recorded. The cul- to say a king—but we have no idea about the SusAnna and Joel B. Grae, 2010.6.114 istic of Sokoto features are heavy eyebrows tures probably overlapped geographically, at political system that was in force.9 and beards, the latter sometimes braided or least in part, and certainly were known to Another Nok sculpture represents a male bound. Generally these figures are fragmen- each other at particular times. figure with his hands upraised, the fingers, 50 51 delicately rendered, touching above the head uity—that of ancient Egypt. If we may take (fig. 2). The pectorals are again represented. the earliest reaches of these Nigerian civil- Around the neck is a single band, and some izations as a group to extend through the sort of packet hangs from the proper left first millennium b.c.e., and possibly further shoulder.