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SUMMARY:Tracing the copper trade in Central Africa during the 2nd millenni
 um CE: a cross-disciplinary approach - Dr Nicolas Nikis\, Université libr
 e de Bruxelles & Africa Museum
DTSTART:20210611T121500Z
DTEND:20210611T130000Z
UID:TALK159565@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Laura Courto
DESCRIPTION:As a highly valued metal\, exchanged over large distances\, co
 pper has played a major role in the socio-political and economic history o
 f Central Africa during the 2nd millennium CE. Its production and trade ha
 ve\, however\, for long not received much attention in archaeological rese
 arch. In the past few years\, new research has deepened the topic in the t
 wo main producing areas\, the Niari Basin (South Rep. of Congo)\, and the 
 Copperbelt (South-East DRC). The investigation of copper production sites 
 in the Niari Basin allowed to outline the diversity of manufacturing proce
 ss between the 9th and 19th centuries CE and their links with the wider so
 cio-political context. In the meantime\, reappraisal of evidence related t
 o copper ingots produced in the Copperbelt has shown a complex set of inte
 raction between this region and the areas south of the Zambezi and the rol
 e of polities in the exchanges. Those studies have further set the basis f
 or the first geochemical characterisation of both deposits and their produ
 ction with the aim of illuminating their provenance and production technol
 ogy. This recent research provides ground for a cross-disciplinary approac
 h\, including historical\, anthropological\, archaeological and geochemica
 l data\, to expand the investigation on copper trade and the role of coppe
 r in the exchange networks in Central Africa.
LOCATION:Online via zoom
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