The Neolithization of West African Civilization | Origins of West African Civilization

   


Intro 

 Welcome to our exploration of the transformative journey that marked the spread of agriculture and pastoralism in Western Africa. As we delve into the rich tapestry of agricultural and pastoral practices, it's essential to establish a clear understanding of key terms. Cultivation, defined as the act of preparing land and growing crops, and agriculture, encompassing farming, soil cultivation, and animal rearing, form the backbone of this narrative. Additionally, the pastoral aspect, intricately tied to land used for grazing sheep or cattle, adds another layer to the intricate history we're about to uncover. As we embark on this journey, we'll navigate through the Neolithic lens, where the transition from hunting and gathering to farming marked the beginning of significant changes around 13,000 BCE. The Neolithic era not only witnessed the emergence of economies centered on production but also saw the settlement of populations and the development of pivotal technologies like grind equipment and ceramics. Join us as we unravel the threads of the Neolithic Revolution and explore the agro-pastoral landscape that laid the foundation for the diverse cultures and civilizations of Western Africa.

 Spread of Agriculture

    The intricate tapestry of agriculture in West Africa unveils a nuanced narrative shaped by a series of factors. The origins of agro-pastoralism in the region find their roots in the northern reaches, as suggested by the earliest domestic crop—Pearl Millet. Particularly notable is the pivotal role played by domestic pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) between 3000 and 1000 BC, marking a key, if not the sole, crop cultivated across the Sahelian regions of West Africa. While the Sahel witnessed a diversification of crops during the 2nd millennium BC, cereal agriculture emerged relatively late, with a substantial lag of 3000 years between the appearance of domesticated animals in the eastern Sahara and the first signs of domestic crops along the western fringes. Agricultural practices in West Africa occupy a unique middle ground between hunter-gathering and intensive agriculture, influenced by unpredictable environments and increased mobility. The lack of clear archaeological evidence necessitates reliance on ethnographic analogy and indirect clues to infer cultivation practices. Notably, the collaborative sharing of resources between regional communities set the groundwork for agro-pastoral developments. Contrary to earlier hypotheses of East African highlands as the origin of African agriculture, genetic evidence suggests that crops like pearl millet and sorghum may trace their roots to the Western Sahara, particularly southeastern Mauritania and northeastern Mali to Lake Chad. Historical linguistics further contribute to unraveling the past, offering insights into the complex history of agricultural development in West Africa. As Livestock and cultivated crops became intertwined, particularly in areas like the Lower Tilemsi Valley and Dhar Tichitt, pastoralism, especially cattle pastoralism, emerged as a catalyst for socio-economic change in Africa. The coexistence of cultivation and domestication with the movement of pastoral groups adds a dynamic layer to the story of West African agriculture, prompting scholars to look northwards among the Holocene herders of the western Sahara for the origins of this transformative journey.

Pearl Millet 

    Pearl millet, a staple cereal of sub-Saharan Africa, holds a paramount role in unraveling the agricultural development of West Africa. The earliest evidence of pearl millet's domestication dates back to 1800 BC in present-day southwestern Mauritania and around 2000 BC in southeastern Mali. Domesticated pearl millet has also been identified south of the River Niger, reaching countries like Nigeria and Ghana during the early 2nd millennium BC. Remarkably, fully domesticated pearl millet, an indigamous African crop, is found in India around the 3rd millennium BC, sparking questions about simultaneous domestication or a potential northern origin. Recent excavations in Eastern Mali provide new insights, suggesting cultivation likely began around the 4th millennium BC. Despite the challenges in archaeological identification of cultivation, evidence from these excavations points to the late 3rd millennium BC as a crucial period for domestic pearl millet. The findings indicate that communities arriving in eastern Mali during the 2nd millennium BC had already brought domestic pearl millet and cattle with them. As the 2nd millennium BC unfolded, domestic millet finds spread widely across Western Africa. The rapid spread of millet across the African continent, by the 3rd millennium BC, parallels its presence in India, although this diffusion is yet to be fully documented. The interconnectedness between traditional land-use systems, increased mobility, and regional sharing, as noted by scholars, lays the foundation for agro-pastoral developments in West Africa, offering a comprehensive perspective on the intricate history of food production in the region.

Fonio

    Fonio, an enigmatic grain both archaeologically elusive and still somewhat rare in the present day, holds the distinction of being one of West Africa's earliest domesticates. Archaeological traces of fonio have been identified at a site near the Tichitt region, dating back to around 850 BC. This discovery is attributed to the Proto Mande Peoples, the forebears of the illustrious Tichitt culture, which stands out as one of the earliest complex societies in sub-Saharan Africa, flourishing in the Western Sahel regions of modern-day Mauritania. Renowned for their distinctive Roulette Ceramic pottery and dry stone wall architecture, the Tichitt culture's agricultural practices, including the cultivation of fonio, marked a significant milestone in the region's history. Additional archaeological evidence in Senegal around AD 500 further supports fonio's presence and importance in ancient West African societies. While fonio remains somewhat elusive in the archaeological record, linguistic evidence hints at its ancient origins, underscoring the vital role this grain played in the early agricultural landscape of West Africa. On a parallel note, cowpea, another important crop in the region, reveals its earliest domestic remains in Central Ghana around 1500 BC. Believed to have originated in Western Africa, cowpea's resilience to drought and shade makes it an excellent intercrop, contributing to the rich agricultural tapestry of the region.

Pastoralism 

    The spread of pastoralism into Western Africa unfolded against a backdrop of environmental challenges and dynamic socio-economic changes. The "Cattle Before Crops" model, rooted in the arid conditions between the 5th and 4th millennia BC, marked a barrier to southward migrations of domestic resources. Domesticated cattle, with origins in North Africa since 8000 BP, traced back to sites like Nabta Playa and Bir Keisba, associated with populations ancestral to present-day Eastern Sudanic Nilo Saharan speakers. 




Tichitt Culture

    Remarkably, cattle development in Africa appeared independent, supported by mitochondrial DNA studies showing divergence from European cattle around 22,000 years ago. The adoption of pastoralism emerged in the central Sahara, with hunter-gatherers preceding the round head period around 6k BC, migrating westwards into Mauritania and giving rise to the Tichitt culture, a complex society lasting from 2000 BC to 1500 BC. 











    Climate shifts after 2500 BC led to the southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone, enabling pastoralism to spread into sub-Saharan West Africa. Areas like Timelsi became corridors for southward migration, bringing domestic livestock and Saharan material culture. The Méma region, a province of the later Ghana Empire, experienced cultural infiltration, linking to traditions from the north. While Tichitt housed one of sub-Saharan Africa's earliest complex societies, evidence of cultivation at Dhar Tichitt suggests intricate agricultural practices. This spread of pastoralism and agricultural knowledge played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations for the later West African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. These developments occurred amid increasing aridification and erratic climatic conditions, culminating in a distinct dry episode around 2200/2000 BC, marking a crucial phase in the transition from the Holocene humid period to current arid conditions. These environmental dynamics not only played a central role in socio-economic changes but also posed critical barriers to the southward expansion of domesticated resources, reinforcing the 'cattle before crops' model in early African food production.

DNA Breakdown of Some Mande Speakers: (Soon to be updated) 









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