Researchers find strong archaeological evidence of human activities in 3000 BC in Biafra

Researchers find strong archaeological  evidence of human activities in 3000 BC in Biafra

Researchers based at University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Kogi State University, Ayangba have found strong archaeological evidence of human activities dating back to 3000 BC in Biafra.


Palynological results from the 3000 BC archaeological sites on the Udi-Okigwe plateau in Biafra have shown
evidence of deforestation linked to two human activities: iron smelting, and agriculture with bush
burning.

Academic to the report published in an academic journal Quaternary International, the research was conducted to assess the climate as well as vegetation change from tree- to grass-type, in order to assess the impact of human activities on the environment during the Holocene, using  palynomorphs recovered from the excavated cave
Pollen of plants associated with human impact was used to assess human influence on the vegetation.
The cross-cutting study involved researchers: Obianuju P. Umeji (Departments of Geology), Anselm M. Ibeanu (Departments of Archaeology) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and C.O.C. Agwu from the Department of Botany, Kogi State University, Ayangba.

Some of the evidence of human activities found include: stone quarry site, hand-axe factories, iron mining  (Goethite and hematite being predominant ores smelted), sandstone cave sediments (human occupation).

The researchers concluded that scarplands of eastern Nigeria (Biafra) were inhabited by people with
an Acheulean Stone Age Culture, indicated by the hand-axe factory at Ugwuele. They were not agriculturalists, and the stratigraphy was aceramic. Subsequently, more widespread and increasing
population of iron tools-using people spread along the entire length and breadth of the plateau, smelting and selling bloom to smiths. Remains of their activity are widespread over the plateau.

Factors other than water seemed to have influenced the habitation sites. The locally occurring lateritic ores were quarried and smelted to produce blooms. The early stage of iron smelting with less efficient
technology and beneficiation demanded much fuel and resulted in deforestation as freshly cut wood was preferred to dead wood. Besides, the needed hard woods required longer time to regenerate,
and once removed, the shelter they offered to smaller woods was lost.