Article Citation: Abubakar, Abdulqadir Muhammad & Sani, Khalid Muhammad (2020). An Archaeological Reconnaissance and Survey of Kyarana Abandoned Settlement of Kiru Local Government Area, Kano State. DEGEL: The Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Vol. 18, No. 2. ISSN 0794-9316
AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE AND
SURVEY OF KYARANA ABANDONED SETTLEMENT OF KIRU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO
STATE
By
Abubakar,
Abdulqadir Muhammad & Sani, Khalid Muhammad
Abstract
Several attempts have been made to reconstruct the
settlement history of various settlements across Hausaland since the beginning
of the 20th century by colonial anthropologists, historians,
archaeologists and so on. A good number of this studies focused on the oral
history of these settlements and factors responsible for their developments
from a structural-functionalist perspective. The problem with this point of
view is that it deliberately neglects the role of material culture in the
history of settlements. As such, employing an archaeological approach, this
preliminary study has surveyed and documented surface material data from
Kyarana abandoned settlement. Basically, archaeological reconnaissance and
survey were the methods employed in the course of this study. This present
paper thus, concludes that material remains form an integral part of a
society’s settlement history.
Introduction
This current archaeological study of Kyarana was carried out
in order to identify, document and study material evidence on the site.
Reconnaissance and survey were the main methods employed in carrying out this
research. The objectives of the survey and reconnaissance were to reveal the
archaeological finds and features found on the sites, describe the distribution
of cultural resources around the abandoned settlement, to establish the extent
of the site and to collect and analyse the archaeological remains found on the
site.
Kyarana site is located between latitude 110 34’N
and Longitude 080 08’E, approximately 100m West of the present
kyarana settlement. The present day Kyarana settlement is bordered with Maska to the west; Dangora to the south; Bauda
to east and Yako to the north. The
physical terrain of the site is plain; there is evidence of farming activities
on the land, the ridges appear to be running from south to north others from
east to west. The texture of the soil in the northern part of the site is Loamy
and the colour is Darkish Brown while at the western part of the site the
texture is sand-loamy and the colour is reddish: At the centre of the site and
south eastern part of the site, the texture is loamy and the colour is light
brown.
The cultural materials that characterize the site include:
Collapsed defensive wall that surrounds the site, scattered potsherds, several
house ruins and house relics especially the house relic of the king of old
Kyarana located at the centre of the site which was still erected, and two dye
pit clusters; one located at the western part of the site, the latter located
north eastern part of the site but outside the defensive wall.
Methods
This section deals with the archaeological reconnaissance
and survey carried out at Kyarana abandoned settlement. The ground
reconnaissance carried out involved going round, identifying and observing
finds and features of archaeological interest, for subsequent classification,
analysis and interpretation. Besides, the survey was adopted in other to map
out the site and other necessary measurement. The reconnaissance was conducted
on foot; finds such as potsherds and upper grinding stone were collected on the
surface using simple random collection. While features like: house ruin, old
well, dye pits and defensive wall were identified, examined, measured, and
photographed. The transect method was employed across the landscape while
walking over the area; collecting, measuring and documenting finds and
features.
These are methods adopted by the archaeologists in the study
of past human society. Archaeologists must physically set out with the aim of
discovering sites, studying and documenting them, and also to conduct
excavation where necessary. Two major methods of archaeological studies that
are relevant to this research include; Reconnaissance and Survey.
Archaeological reconnaissance and survey was carried out by
traversing the site on foot with the aim of mapping the site. Simple Random
Sampling technique was adopted in the collection of surface finds. Samples of
surface potsherds were collected at random from different sections of the site
for analyses. Visible features were identified and represented on the site map
by taking readings of their geographical coordinates.
Results
Archaeological findings are portable material that can be
move from one location to another without destructing them, they include;
potsherds, iron slag, spindle whorl and upper grinding stone. Potsherds, upper
grinding stones and potsherd pavements were collected at the site.
Features are archaeological material remains that cannot be
move from it context without altering the structure of the feature, the
features found on the surface of the site consist of house relics, graves, dye
pits, gates among others.
Upper and Lower
Grinding Stones
Three upper grinding stones have been discovered; they were discovered and collected at the northern part of the site on top of the defensive wall; a secondary location. There primary location was altered due to farming activities. One fragment of lower grinding stone was identified and recorded on the site; it was discovered at the center of the site. However, this is not its primary location. The grinding stone does not have a regular shape but its length is 13cm while its breadth is 15cm, the thickness of the lower grinding stone is 4cm.
Figure I. Upper grinding stones
Figure 2. Fragment of Lower Grinding Stone
Potsherds
Fifty-one (51) potsherds were randomly collected from
different angle of the site. The potsherds were generally small and portable.
Three (3) kaolin pavements were collected at the relic of the king’s house.
Dye pit cluster
Cluster of dye pits was identified at the north central of
the site. Twenty (20) of them were counted, though others were buried beneath
the ground. The diameter of the dye pits was measured and it ranges between
70cm to 90cm. The length of the dye area is 40m while its breadth is 30m. The
depth of the dye pits ranges from 50cm to 100cm.
Figure 3. Dye pit cluster
A second cluster of dye pits were discovered outside the
defensive wall. It was located at the north eastern part of the site. Sixteen
(16) of them were counted, more than half of them were buried beneath the
ground, while others were destroyed as a result of farming activity. The
diameter of the dye pits was measured and it also ranges between 70cm to 90cm.
The length of the dye area is 45m while its breadth is 30m. The depth of the
dye pits ranges from 80cm to 150cm.
Old Wells
The well is located at the south-eastern part of the site.
The well has collapsed; almost filled up. The diameter of the well is measured
350cm while the depth of the well is measured 45cm. It is now used for dumping
weeded grasses and burns them when they dried off. A second well is located at
the centre of the site; 20m south-eastern part of the King’s house relic. The
well has collapsed; almost filled up. The diameter of this well is 280cm, the
depth is 90cm. It also serves the same purpose with first old well which is
dumping weeded grasses and burns them when they dried off.
House Relic
House relics were identified. The most significant one is
that of the king located at the centre of the site. The height of the house
ranges from 20cm to 110cm. the extent of the house was determined and measured
15m length and 9m breadth. The level of deterioration of this house remain is
low compare to other house relics. This is because the architecture used in
building the house is exceptional.
Figure 4. House relic
Exposed Pot Rim
An exposed full Rim of a pottery was discovered at the
northern part of the site. The rim is black. Its diameter was measured 20cm.
The thickness of the rim is 3cm.
Figure 5. Exposed Pot Rim
Graves
Three graves were discovered sporadically on the site. As
mention earlier; Kyarana abandoned settlement doesn’t have a specific cemetery,
they bury their dead at the back of their houses.
The first grave was discovered at the south eastern part of
the site. The second and the third were discovered at the northern part of the
site. The distance between the second and the third grave is 20m.
Cluster Of
House Foundations
Foundation of ruined houses were identified at the south
eastern part of the site; six (6) were counted at this angle. Their height
ranges from 10cm 40cm. Other house foundations were scattered around the site.
The architecture of the house relics and ruin were built with Tubali.
Collapsed Defensive Wall
One of the most important features identified on the site is
the remains of defensive wall. The height of the defensive wall ranges from
20cm to 70cm. the width of the defence wall range from 45cm to 65cm. People are
rapidly digging parts of the defence wall for two reasons: using the earth dug
from the defence wall in building their houses, and for to provide more land
for farming activities (Musa, Pers., Comm., 2018). Besides, rainfall is another
threat to the preservation of the wall.
Figure 6. Defense wall
Entrance Gates
While mapping the site, four gates were identified and
recorded: The western gate (Kofar Yamma),
northern gate (Kofar Arewa), eastern
gate (Kofar Gabas) and southern gate (Kofar Kudu). (See Figure 7).
Figure 7. Kyarana Archaeological Site Map.
Source: Fieldwork 2018
Interpretation
An attempt was made to interpret the cultural materials
recovered from Kyarana abandoned settlement. This is done in order to
understand and evaluate the objectives of the research and answer the problems
stated in chapter one. The archaeologist can only reconstruct the past through
material evidence and other sources (Rabiu, 2014). Descriptive interpretation
is used in this study, which is directly from the data analysed. The data is
classified and analysed to understand the diachronic changes that took place
and/or cultural continuity.
Material culture is one of the medium through which past
human society is understood. Thus, archaeology uses material evidence to make
inference about the behavioural aspects of the people under study (Okpoko,
1998; Audi, 2011). This inference is achieved based on the reasoning that the
identity of unknown relations may be inferred from those that are known
(Okpoko, 1989).
The archaeologists are concerned with past human behaviours
that created the archaeological record, it is necessary to employ some tools
which will help in bridging the gap between the material evidence and the past
behaviours. For this to be possible, some theoretical links are used and these
links are based on analogy (Maryam, 2014).
Stone tools
The grinding stones obtained shows, evidence on how human
was able to interact with the natural environment and solve his socio-economic
challenges. The grinding stone are used in preparation of food and other
medicinal herbs. The stone artifacts found around the sites include; one (1)
lower grinding and three (3) upper grinding stones. The stones were discovered
at a secondary location; the upper grinding stones were discovered at the top
of the defence wall while the lower grinding stone was recovered at the centre
of the site. There transportation to this place was because of farming
activities. The stones are generally seen as an obstacle on a plain farm land;
as such these stones were moved away from their primary location.
The discovery of grinding stones on the site suggested
indirect evidence of the settlement being agriculturally based. The stones have
smoothed surface and were flat; this is as a result of constant grinding,
suggesting possible used as household utensils. The grinding stones recovered,
were used for grinding vegetables, pepper, herbs and grains. Few people use
grinding stones now in Kyarana. This is because of the coming of generator or
electric grinding machines and wooden mortar.
Pottery
Pottery material is among the artifacts that stand the test
of time, but only when fired. Archaeologist rely on pottery in the
reconstruction or understanding of past human life ways; and how human was able
to exploit his immediate environment in other to suit his living. This is due
to the fact that pottery tells vast array of information on human culture which
includes: subsistence economy, religious belief, cultural boundary, cultural
practices, cultural contact among others.
Analysis result shows that most of the vessels were pots and
bowls. Some of the pots were cooking pots because the vessel parts (body) were
thin which allows easy thermal penetration and they are little bit dark as a
result of soot deposit obtained while cooking. Other pots were thick and have a
wider rim diameter; these suggest that they are used for storage. The bowls
were generally used for fetching water. On the other hand, the potsherd
pavements were used for flooring.
The most common pottery wares that are used today include; tulu used for storing water and
significant indigenous refrigerator, Kasko/tanda use for frying and randa use for burial purposes. There is
no pottery industry presently in Kyarana and on a general level, pottery making
is declining as clay pots are being replace by metal and polyethylene bowls and
buckets.
House Relics
The house remains identified represent the social units
within the populations that settled on the site. From the nature of ruins,
social stratification can clearly be seen. The level of deterioration of the
King’s house and other nobles house remain close to the King’s house is low
compare to other house relics found on the site. This is because a high
technical architecture is used in building the houses and that make them
exceptional.
Walling System
The construction of defensive walls around settlements
suggests the priority of communal security against outsider (Ogundiran, 2006;
Maryam, 2014). Defensive walls were common in Hausaland. This is due to the
fact that the region once faced an era of war conflict between different
communities. The war was majorly aimed to conquer more villages for the ancient
urban centres to have more power.
The defensive wall built in Kyarana was use as a defence
system from attacks, both from invaders and carnivorous wild animals. Besides,
the defence wall is a clear indication of an ancient urban centre that has a
well centralized political system of government under the leadership of the
king that enforces amount of labour force in building the walls for defence
purpose. Furthermore, the defensive wall indicates how proficient the builders
were of identifying suitable building materials used; and techniques to enable
them build the walls for protection.
Dye Pits
Dye pits form an important core of the cultural
landscape element of Kyarana. Two clusters of dye pits were discovered. The
first was discovered within the settlement site (inside the defensive wall),
and the latter 20m away from the settlement site (outside the defensive wall).
This represents a city’s historical art and craft practices that were the main
economic activities after farming over centuries ago. These are evidence that
indicates the development and self-sustainability of Kyarana early inhabitants.
It also indicates clearly that the development of cities and towns took place
without outside influence in West Africa (Audi, 2011).
Archaeological and historical sources confirm that the
inhabitants of Kyarana in the past were engaged in traditional dyeing. The
first dye industry was in cluster, twenty (20) of them were counted, though
others were buried beneath the ground, the length of the dye area is 40m while
its breadth is 30m, the size of this first dye area and the number of dye pits
counted shows that the industry is large and still developing.
The second dye area is located outside the walling system.
It was also in cluster sixteen (16) of them were counted, more than half of
them were buried beneath the ground. The length of the dye area is 45m while
its breadth is 30m. The second dye area is clearly an extension of the first
dye industry, which suggests their fast-growing development. Historical source
affirms that the inhabitants of old Kyarana were the only community that
engaged in such craft. That made the place an important dye centre and all
other neighbouring villages relied on Kyarana in terms of dyeing.
Well
In Kyarana abandoned settlement, there are two old wells.
These wells were dug after severe sufferings of shortage of water that happened
long time ago. Oral tradition revealed that there was a time when Kyarana was
put under siege of more than two weeks by invaders. During this period no
single well, built inside the defence wall. As earlier mentioned, they usually
source their drinking water from river Kamanda. Kyarana was on siege no one can
go out to source the water from Kamanda and the invaders cannot inter the city
because of the fortifications. It was in this situation they decided to dig
down beneath the ground with the intension of getting water from the earth.
Luckily enough they got the water, from then well became their major source of
water for drinking.
Discussion
Human beings live on diverse environment ranging from those
found on the polar region, temperate and tropical region. In the ancient times,
human use their ingenuity, skill and courage to survive in the wild places face
to face with raw nature. With intimate understanding of the environment, human
was able to developed diverse categories of indigenous knowledge that help him
to survive in the wild places. The living experience of past human society is
what laid the foundation of today’s life ways.
Human has been trying to choose wisely better environmental
situations that can provide him with both shelters against harsh weather and as
well defence against predators (Mustakim, 2014). This need for defence
increases with the emergence of complex societies and political organization.
Human became involved in large scale armed conflicts, thus, the fear of
invasion by hostile groups, forced people to use environmental provisions that
will made them impenetrable. The most common natural provision that have been
variously used for defensive reasons include; hilltops, mountains and river
meanders among others. In the areas where such natural provisions are lacking,
people alternatively construct artificial defensive structures such as defence
wall, wide ditches, and earthwork fortifications among others.
Considering the presence of natural resources within Kyarana
suggested other form of subsistence economic activity like hunting and fishing
these resources includes; river Kamanda in which aquatic resources were
exploited and Kamanda forest which hunting games were done. These are however,
among the ecological determinants that led to the emplacement of the
settlement. Besides, the people of Kyarana realize the fertility of their soil
and then engaged into farming activity. The only physical evidence of the
ancient economy of Kyarana abandoned site is the dye pits. However, the
development of dyeing in the area might be as a result of cultural contact
between Kyarana and Kano. Developments in indigenous crafts and industries
attracted immigrants. These are the basic economic factors that led to the rise
of Kyarana as an urban centre.
The discovery of grinding stone on the site is a clear
indication of several phenomena. Grinding stone were used for grinding grains
for food preparation and herbs for medicinal purposes. This shows that people
of Kyarana use their ingenuity in the aspect of food preparations and they also
possess traditional therapeutical process of healing.
In trying to establish relationship between the surface find
on the site, pottery specifically, and the behaviour of human as the agent of
the finds, the general utilitarian value of pottery material needs to be
considered. The utilitarian value of pottery includes; storage, preparation and
transfer. Pottery can be used for storage of grains or water, the pottery
material used for storage are generally thick that can resist pressure. The
pottery used in food or drink preparation and consumption have wide diameter
and, in some cases, have handles, these potteries were also significant source
of residual analysis. Lastly, the pottery used in transportation is significant
in tracing cultural contact.
To understand the spatial distribution and the
relationship between settlement site and the industrial site, and the
relationship between settlement site and other sources of natural resources we
need to employ settlement archaeology. In every traditional settlement there is
considerable variety in the activities which create archaeological features
(Schiffer 1977; Agorsah 1983), and all the members of the society are
contributors to the matrix of actions that eventually become the archaeological
record. It is this observation that calls for the absolute need to consider the
social context as an important factor in explaining spatial behaviour. The
location and distribution of structural features affect human behaviour.
Settlement studies in archaeology helps in understanding past subsistence
strategy because, there is a very close interplay between settlement system and
subsistence. In archaeology, it is difficult to understand subsistence
system/pattern in the absence of settlement data; because settlement size, type
and location can reveal a great deal about how economic system was structured,
how it functions and how it changes over time (Sutton, 2006).
For archaeologist to find a cluster of house remains, it
indicates close relation between the inhabitants of the houses. Basically, the
Local Rule model explains that people locate themselves close to those to whom
they have more intimate relationships. That is, the decision for human groups
to locate in nearby areas represents an indication of closer relationship,
while locating farther apart indicates negative relationship (Agorsah, 1988).
Example; if A has a good relationship with B but not with C, A will locate in
the same geographical settlement space with B rather than with C.
Behaviourally, according to the model, the relationship between A and B is said
to be positive while that between A and C is considered to be negative. This
probably explains why house ruins are mostly discovered in cluster in
archaeological site.
Oral tradition affirms that the settlement pattern of
Kyarana abandoned site was nuclear and the central core was the king’s house.
It is good to note that in nuclear settlement there must be a walkway linking
important centres of the site, example, path way from different angle of
settlement to the central core which is the King house for various political
activities, a walkway from every angle of settlement to the industrial site for
industrial purposes, and other permanent structural features such as houses,
storage facilities, and other fixed structures. The relationships between these
important centres may change over time probably as a result of development.
These footpaths were featured on the site and were destroyed by farming activities.
Finally, the archaeological discoveries on Kyarana abandoned
settlement show that ecological determinant is what led to the emplacement of
Kyarana at that particular location. The spatial distribution of the site shows
how they were able to relate to the natural environment and become the agent of
the archaeological record. On a general level, it shows how human were able to
use their ingenuity and skill to survive.
Conclusion
The research has stressed the role of archaeology in
studying and interpreting past patterns of human life. The study of past
settlement also helps in understanding the complex relationship between a
society and environment. The archaeological materials recovered present
evidence of economic and technological developments of the people of Kyarana
prior to contact with the Europeans. It also shows evidence of leadership with
central authority. Besides, Kyarana early inhabitants had adequate knowledge of
their natural environment, which enabled them to manipulate the environment and
produce various household utensils that eased their way of life and assisted in
bumper harvests in the agricultural sector.
Ethnographic studies and written data have helped in the
interpretation of surface finds on the site like; pottery, grinding stones and
kaolin pavement. Result of pottery analysis suggests that the pottery was used
for domestic purposes such as cooking and storing of grains and rationing of
food stuff to various locations. The use of grinding stones also suggests that
the society was agrarian based. The stones were used for grinding grains or
other food items and other medicinal herbs. Lastly, the presence of house
ruins, dye pits and defensive wall suggest a permanent settlement with a
diversified economic base and a stratified society, which may have risen,
reached its peak and fallen.
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