@article{fdi:010088416,
  title = {{A} question of rite-pearl millet consumption at {N}ok cultures sites, {N}igeria (second/first millennium {BC})},
  author = {{C}hampion, {L}ouis and {H}{\¨o}hn, {A}. and {N}eumann, {K}. and {F}ranke, {G}. and {B}reunig, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {N}ok culture in central {N}igeria, dated 1500-1 cal bc, is known for its famous terracotta sculptures. {W}e here present a study on > 11,000 botanical macro-remains from 50 sites, including 343 samples from {N}ok contexts and 22 samples dating between cal ad 100 and 400, after the end of the {N}ok culture. {W}ith 9,220 remains, pearl millet ({C}enchrus americanus ({L}.) {M}orrone, syn. {P}ennisetum glaucum ({L}.) {R}.{B}r.) is dominant in the {N}ok samples, followed by cowpea ({V}igna unguiculata ({L}.) {W}alp.), {C}anarium schweinfurthii {E}ngl., {N}auclea latifolia {S}m. (syn. {S}arcocephalus latifolius ({S}m.) {E}.{A}.{B}ruce), wild fruit trees and wild {P}oaceae. {T}he pearl millet remains consist exclusively of charred caryopses; chaff remains are completely absent. {B}ecause we studied all size fractions, including the small 0.5 mm fractions usually containing the involucres, bristles and husks, the absence of pearl millet chaff is real, excluding a methodological explanation, and distinguishes {N}ok from contemporary other {W}est {A}frican sites. {W}e propose that most excavated {N}ok sites were consumer sites where clean grain was brought in from outside and consumed in a ritual context connected with feasting. {T}his is in line with the archaeological evidence from the larger excavated sites with stone-pot arrangements that are interpreted as ritual places related to mortuary practices. {I}n addition to the known southward branches of pearl millet diffusion from the {S}ahara we propose a new, hitherto unknown branch directly from the central {S}ahara to the central {N}igerian savannas.},
  keywords = {{NIGERIA} ; {KADUNA} {ETAT}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{V}egetation {H}istory and {A}rchaeobotany},
  volume = {32},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {263--283},
  ISSN = {0939-6314},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = { 10.1007/s00334-022-00902-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088416},
}