Sociétés préhistoriques et Mégalithes dans le Nord-Ouest de la République Centrafricaine

Description

The north-east of the Central African Republic and the east of Cameroon were the only geographical zones in central Africa to have important concentrations of megalithic monuments. The objective of the eleven years of research work reported on here was to understand the role and place of the megalithic phenomenon, and notably the relation of megaliths with systems of symbolic representation, in the societies of the Central African Republic from 2500 BC. A firm chronological framework is presented, together with a fresh analysis of material culture, derived from a systematic programme of fieldwork comprising survey, sondages and excavation. Three cultural periods are distinguished and iron-working activity is shown to be present from the 9th century BC. The interactions of the whole cultural order are explored: at the level of pottery manufacture, iron-working and megalith construction. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication PRÉFACE Opening Quotation SOMMAIRE TABLE DES FIGURES LISTE DES TABLEAUX AVANT-PROPOS INTRODUCTION CHAPITRE I. TERRAINS, THÉORIES ET MÉTHODES CHAPITRE II. PRÉSENTATION GÉNÉRALE DES SITES CHAPITRE III. LA PÉRIODE I BALIMBÉ (2135-1612 CAL BC à 1263-932 CAL BC) CHAPITRE IV. PÉRIODE II GBABIRI (950 CAL BC à 1600 CAL AD) CONCLUSION GÉNÉRALE BIBLIOGRAPHIE CAMBRIDGE MONOGRAPHS IN AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGY