The origins of Timbuktu.

The origins of Timbuktu. The origins of Timbuktu are little understood. A city whose name isfamiliar to many has surprisingly been the focus of very littlearchaeological research prior to the commencement of the currentproject. The results of the first season have already been reported inANTIQUITY (Insoll 1998) when it was noted that the massive accumulationof sand deposits was a severe impediment to effective archaeologicalsurvey, except where so-called `peaks' or `islands' ofarchaeological deposits were visible appearing through the sands orareas of modern housing. One of these areas of archaeological deposits which was identifiedin 1996, the `Casbah Marocaine' was the focus of trial excavationin September 1998, undertaken with the aim of reconstructing thesequence of occupation in the area (FIGURE 1). Unfortunately, both theunstable nature of the deposits, and their unexpected depth precludedthe base of the sequence being reached as excavations were terminatedfor safety reasons at a depth of 5 metres (FIGURE 2). A single AMS AMS - Andrew Message System datewas obtained from the base of the sequence of (GX-24763) 170 [+ or -] 40BP or 1780 [+ or -] 40 AD. A similar picture of deep deposits datingfrom comparatively recently was obtained from a further test excavationcompleted next to the 14th-century Sankore mosque (FIGURE 3). Occupationlevels were interspersed by layers of both wind and waterlain sand, andfrom the basal layer of the trench an AMS date of (GX-24764) 240 [+ or-] 40 BP or 1710 [+ or -] 40 AD was obtained. [Figures 1-3 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Any trace of occupation associated with the historically recordedfoundation date for Timbuktu of c. AD 1100 (Es-Sadi 1900: 20-21) wasthus wholly elusive, as it similarly was for the reputed highpoint ofthe city during its period under the control of the Songhai empire Songhai empireor Songhay empireAncient Muslim state, West Africa. Centred on the middle Niger River in what is now central Mali, it eventually extended to the Atlantic coast and into Niger and Nigeria. Established by the Songhai people c. between the mid 15th and late 16th centuries. Similar late material wasrecovered from excavations completed on the other side of Timbuktu inthe western Azalai area, where the archaeological deposits were muchshallower and natural deposits were reached (FIGURE 4). The presence offragments of tobacco pipes in all the sequences confirms the radiocarbondates, as these artefacts obviously postdate To designate a written instrument, such as a check, with a time or date later than that at which it is really made. the introduction of tobaccoto Africa at the very end of the 16th century. These are at presentbeing analysed by Alison Clague and will provide one of the firstassemblages of such material to be recovered from secure contexts in th eregion, and will thus be invaluable for comparative purposes. Similarly,the assemblage of later ceramics, glass bracelet fragments, and beadsbeing analysed by William Argyle are of equal significance. [Figure 4 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yet the `mysterious' nature of Timbuktu still persists, andthe Tarikh al-Sudan appears to be correct in stating that the buildingof Timbuktu, and the joining of all its parts together was onlycompleted in the mid 16th century AD (Levtzion 1973: 158). At present itstands in complete contrast to its older neighbour, the city of Gao,where the historical sources have needed completely rethinking in thelight of archaeological research there (Insoll 1996; 2000). However,this project enters another phase in December 2000 when the next seasontakes place in Timbuktu, and during which a motorized coring machinewill be utilized to enable the systematic and rapid sampling of depositsacross the city. Perhaps then the elusive occupation history of Timbuktuw ill be more fully understood, as the problems of excavating deepunstable deposits without timber for shoring purposes (this being theedge of the Sahara) should be surmountable sur¡¤mount?tr.v. sur¡¤mount¡¤ed, sur¡¤mount¡¤ing, sur¡¤mounts1. To overcome (an obstacle, for example); conquer.2. To ascend to the top of; climb.3. a. To place something above; top. . References ES-SADI, A. 1900. Tarikh es-Soudan. (Trans. O. Houdas.). Paris:Ernest Leroux. INSOLL, T. 1996. Islam, archaeology and history. Gao region The Gao Region is located in eastern Mali. The region's capital city is Gao. Gao Region is bordered to the south and east by Niger, to the north by Kidal Region, and to the west by Tombouctou Region. (Mali)ca. AD 900-1250. Oxford: Tempvs Reparatum. Cambridge Monographs inAfrican Archaeology The continent of Africa has the longest record of human activity of any part of the world and along with its geographical extent, it contains an enormous archaeological resource. Sc holars have studied Egyptology for centuries but archaeologists have only paid serious attention to the rest 39. BAR S647. 1998. Archaeological research in Timbuktu, Mall, Antiquity 72:413-17. 2000. (With various contributions.) Urbanism, archaeology andtrade. Further observations on the Gao region (Mali). The 1996fieldseason results. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. BAR $829. LEVTZION, N. 1973. Ancient Ghana and Mali London Mali London (Serbian Cyrillic: Мали Лондон, English: Little London) is a settlement in Serbia at the outskirts of Pančevo, close to the capital Belgrade. The Tamiš River runs through Mali London. : Methuen. TIMOTHY INSOLL, School of Art History & Archaeology, Universityof Manchester The University of Manchester is a university located in Manchester, England. With over 40,000 students studying 500 academic programmes, more than 10,000 staff and an annual income of nearly ¡ê600 million it is the largest single-site University in the United Kingdom and receives , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, England.Tim.Insoll@man.ac.uk