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Browsing College of Humanities by Subject "6000 to 1500 before present"

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    Archaeological examination of cultural interactions in the upper Nile catchment areas: 6000 to 1500 before present Kyazike Elizabeth
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2013) Elizabeth, Kyazike
    The Khartoum Neolithic culture spread in time and space and was said to have a relationship with the Kansyore cultural material (Chapman, 1967; Robertshaw, 1982). This thesis makes an archaeological examination of cultural interactions in the Upper Nile catchment areas in the period 6000-1500 BP. Specifically it made a comparative study of the Ugandan Kansyore sites (Nsongezi, Kansyore Island and Island of Deserters) and Khartoum Neolithic sites in central and southern Sudan such as Lokabulo, Itohom, Jebel Kathangor, Shaqadud and Esh- Shaheinab. The study examined the credibility of diffusion and migration theories as previously used to explain how cultures of Africa were formed and developed with the assistance of trade and ecological theories to examine the state of cultural connections and affinity in the Upper Nile catchment areas. This involved examination of cultural material like pottery decoration, vessel shapes, and fabric; lithic typology, and faunal remains. The aim of the study was to examine cultural connections and affinity to trace correlations in the Upper Nile catchment areas. In this investigation, the study employed the basic archaeological field methods, which were survey and excavations but also utilised written records especially the ancient historical records and ethnographic inquiries. The findings included; lithics, ceramics, faunal remains, metallurgical remains, red ochre, daub pieces, and charcoal samples. The results from the study showed that affinity existed as traced from pottery, lithics, and the faunal remains in the Upper Nile catchment areas. The absence of domesticates in Kansyore sites did not necessarily imply these were not Neolithic sites as indirect evidence could be obtained from the presence of grinding stones and pottery abrasion hence we could talk about the Neolithic outside the rift valley. Rouletted pottery dated 2710±44 BP implies that rouletting started in the Neolithic period though chronometric dating suggests that Kansyore site is younger compared to the Khartoum Neolithic sites. Despite the absence of exotic material to support trade as a means of cultural interaction ancient historical records indicate that Egypt traded with Punt now accepted to be in East Africa (Chami, 2006, Kitchener, 2004). The study also identified wavy line pottery. The study concluded that cultural affinity existed in the upper Nile catchment areas and hence the Nile was not a cul de sac. Though movements existed in the past at times people were not mere migrants for example the Egyptian deserters who moved for war purposes. Diffusion is not a one way colonial relationship from north to south as the aqualithic culture suggested diffusion from the south to the north.