Tongo Maaré Diabal (Horizon 1)
Basic information
Sample name: Tongo Maaré Diabal (Horizon 1)
Reference: N. Gestrich and K. C. MacDonald. 2018. On the margins of Ghana and Kawkaw: four seasons of excavation at Tongo Maaré Diabal (AD 500-1150), Mali. Journal of African Archaeology 16(1):1-30 [ER 3767]
Geography
Country: Mali
State: Mopti
Coordinate: 15° 0' N, 2° 57' W
Coordinate basis: based on nearby landmark
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3767
Unit number: 1
Unit order: below to above
Max Ma: 0.00145
Min Ma: 0.0013
Age basis: radiocarbon (calibrated)
Geography comments: "Tongo Maaré Diabal (TMD) lies in a narrow strip of flatland between two sheer sandstone escarpments (Bandiagara and Dyoundé), 1 km north of the modern town of Douentza, Mali" (basis of coordinate).
"Seven radiocarbon dates provide a 650 year time span for the excavation’s discrete sequence of building events (horizons)". Horizon 1 ranges from AD 500-650.
"Seven radiocarbon dates provide a 650 year time span for the excavation’s discrete sequence of building events (horizons)". Horizon 1 ranges from AD 500-650.
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation,settlement
Archaeology: buildings,ceramics,hearths,stone tools
Habitat comments: "Tongo Maaré Diabal is a settlement mound, 9 ha in extent, and approximately 3 to 4.5 m in elevation above the surrounding plain. The site is at a crossroads on land routes connecting Timbuktu and Gao to the Malian interior, as well as north-western Burkina Faso to the Niger Bend. The sequence of archaeological deposits contains five horizons of superimposed earthen buildings. The occupation appears to have been continuous from the site’s foundation to its abandonment".
"The first occupational horizon at the site features a pair of linked, circular coursed earth structures. To the north of them there are shallow ash-filled features suggesting open air hearths. Two technically and visually distinctive pottery traditions occurred at the site from the beginning of its occupation. Large stone grinding basins were found in some rooms, along with frequent finds of hand grinders throughout the sequence, evidencing the processing of grains in and around the buildings".
"The first occupational horizon at the site features a pair of linked, circular coursed earth structures. To the north of them there are shallow ash-filled features suggesting open air hearths. Two technically and visually distinctive pottery traditions occurred at the site from the beginning of its occupation. Large stone grinding basins were found in some rooms, along with frequent finds of hand grinders throughout the sequence, evidencing the processing of grains in and around the buildings".
Methods
Life forms: carnivores,ungulates,birds,fishes
Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash
Sample size: 43 specimens
Years: 1993, 1995, 1996, 2010
Sampling comments: "In 1993, 1995 and 1996 two 4 x 4 m units were excavated, termed A and B, joined by a 1 x 4 m baulk (C). This area was excavated to a maximum depth of 4 m before reaching sterile soil. A further 4 x 4 m unit (D) located on the western part of the site, was only excavated to a depth of 1.3 m".
"The main exposure of the 2010 excavations was positioned directly adjacent to units A, B and C. An initial 9 x 5 m trench (unit E) was extended to the northwest by a further 7 x 5 m area (unit F) for a total excavated area of 125 m2 (Exposure 1). In these two units, only the uppermost occupation horizon was excavated, 50 to 80 cm below the surface. A 7 x 4 m unit (Exposure 2) was also excavated on the eastern part of the site".
"The main exposure of the 2010 excavations was positioned directly adjacent to units A, B and C. An initial 9 x 5 m trench (unit E) was extended to the northwest by a further 7 x 5 m area (unit F) for a total excavated area of 125 m2 (Exposure 1). In these two units, only the uppermost occupation horizon was excavated, 50 to 80 cm below the surface. A 7 x 4 m unit (Exposure 2) was also excavated on the eastern part of the site".
Metadata
Sample number: 4030
Contributor: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-10-27 12:16:04
Modified: 2023-05-30 02:58:07
Abundance distribution
11 species
6 singletons
total count 43
extrapolated richness: 33.0
Fisher's α: 4.777
geometric series k: 0.7411
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.7182
Shannon's H: 1.7224
Good's u: 0.8616
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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| Eudorcas rufifrons | 1 | 30 kg |
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| Capra aegagrus hircus | 1 | 22 kg browser-grazer |
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| also 1 Caprinae indet. | ||
| Bos sp. | 1 | |
| also 18 Bovidae indet. | ||
| Canis sp. | 9 | |
| Gallus gallus domesticus | 20 | 29.1 g frugivore-granivore |
| Streptopelia sp. | 2 | |
| Bagridae indet. | 1 | |
| Clariidae indet. | 3 | |
| Lates niloticus | 1 | |