PhD Theses

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Browsing PhD Theses by Subject "Archaelogy"

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    The tradition of early iron working period on the northern coast of Tanzania: a case study of Maramba division in Tanga region.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2018) Ntandu, Christowaja Lazarus
    Researches on Early Iron Working period particularly on the Coast of East Africa were mainly concerned with classification of ceramics for the purpose of establishing cultural sequences, cultural traditions and developing the Bantu migration theory. In the recent thinking, the focus on ceramics as a source of evidence for understanding the African Past is viewed to have some limitations. This study has gone beyond to use multiple archaeological evidences such as iron slag, iron tools, daub, ceramic arts objects and fauna remains to examine the cultural aspects of the Early Iron Working (EIW) period on Northern Coast of Tanzania using Maramba as a case study. This culture is examined in relation to transoceanic trade that was reported by the Romans in the first two centuries AD. The basic research techniques in archaeology, mainly survey and excavation were used to uncover various archaeological remains which include local and imported ceramics, archaeometallurgical remains, fauna remains and daubs. Of interest in this study, is the discovery of cattle teeth, artistic ceramic objects with SGA script and Dimple based pottery or Urewe for the first time in the tradition of EIW along the coast of East Africa. The presence of diversified ubiquitous archaeological material remains implies the study area to have been occupied by the large population probably engaged in various socio-economic activities. The Carbon 14 results obtained from charcoal analysis confirmed that the Northern coast of Tanzania to had been settled by EIW people from 197 AD to 355 AD. This community which developed from the Late Stone Age (LSA) was found to be evolved through two phases of EIW traditions namely Limbo and Kwale and later on to Maore which is the later EIW working period. Similar sequence has been established on the central coast of Tanzania by other scholars like Felix Chami. The data recovered from this study suggest that EIW culture or Bantu speaking people developed complex societies in which they engaged in various activities which include cattle domestication, iron smelting, transoceanic and regional trade. Various techniques of decorative motifs found in their EIW pottery reflecting complex and high level of artistic knowledge attained by EIW people.