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Trench 1, Brong Quarter (B1)

Trench 1, Brong Quarter (B1)

Description

The stratigraphic data from the trench excavation was fascinating. The trench was divided into 13 arbitrary levels, revealing four cultural layers beneath a red laterite sterile layer. The occupational deposit was over 2.5 meters thick. Most of the recovered cultural materials were local ceramics and animal bones. The topsoil, Layer A, consisted of dark loose humus with rootlets, potsherds, and bone fragments, and made up the first level (0-20 cm), averaging 9 cm thick. Level 2 (20-40 cm) contained two natural strata, Layers A and B. Layer B was a thin, greyish-brown layer about 7 cm thick, containing pottery, bones, cassava stump, and rootlets. At Level 3 (40-60 cm), three cultural layers (B, C, and D) were found. Layer C was a dark reddish-brown layer with ceramics, charcoal particles, bones, and rootlets, averaging 25 cm thick. Layer D, a dark reddish-brown soil, was the thickest cultural layer at 1.98 meters, yielding the most cultural items, including animal bones, ceramics, metals, and beads. Level 4 (60-80 cm) revealed five cultural layers (B, D, E, F, and G). Layer E was an ashy area with charcoal specks, 20 cm thick. Layer F showed evidence of disturbance with gravels, ceramics, and a few bones, and was 22 cm thick in the trench's northwest part. Layer G was dark brown soil, 51 cm thick. This level also had evidence of three animal burrows and collapsed wall materials. The fifth level (80-100 cm) comprised four layers (D, F, H, and I). Layers H and I were ashy areas with charcoal specks, 12 cm and 8 cm thick, respectively. This level also revealed more collapsed wall materials. Layer D continued into Level 6 (100-120 cm), accompanied by Layers J, K, and L. Layer J was a small ashy, disturbed area, 17 cm thick. Layer K was a disturbed hearth area with ceramics and bones, 13 cm thick. Layer L was dark brown soil, 1.25 meters thick. Evidence of a collapsed wall was found at this level. Level 7 (120-140 cm) was primarily dominated by Layer D, with a small ashy area (J), a wall stump, and more collapsed wall materials. The red lateritic sterile layer M was exposed at 138 cm in the trench's southern section. At Level 8 (140-160 cm), Layers D, L, and M were present. Layer L was dark greyish-brown soil, 125 cm thick. This level further exposed the sterile layer and the wall stump. Layers D and L continued into Level 9 (160-180 cm). Level 10 (180-200 cm) exposed Layers D and M, with the wall stump still visible. From Levels 11 (200-220 cm) to 12 (220-240 cm), Layer M (lateritic sterile) and the wall stump were exposed. The trench, measuring 2 x 10 meters, provided limited spatial information but did reveal significant site features such as collapsed wall materials and a wall stump, suggesting building foundations. Layers K and J, with hearth traces, potsherds, burnt bones, and ashy areas, likely indicated courtyard kitchens or fireplaces. The large volume of bones suggested reliance on domesticated and wild animals.

Typology

No typology available.

Chronology

No Chronology available.

Comments

No Comments available.

Provenience (context)

No Provenience available.

Project Context

Project Name: Begho Area Archaeological Project (BAAP)

Project Description: None

Research Year: 2018

Researcher(s): Daniel Kumah

Publications: No publications available

Excavations

Site: Begho-Hani

Subsite: Brong Quarter (B2)

Excavation Date: Jan. 6, 2020

Excavation Duration: 20

GPS Coordinates: N 7┬░50┬┤36.4", W 02┬░27┬┤32.2"

Excavation Procedure: A courtyard mound measuring 21m by 26m with a height of approximately 2.72m was selected for excavation. A trench measuring 2m by 10m, oriented in the south-north direction, was dug across the mound, extending from its crest to its depression. Excavation began at arbitrary levels of 20cm. All deposits were excavated by hand using trowels or small handpicks for compact materials. A 20mm mesh sieve was used to ensure optimal recovery of artifacts and fragmentary materials. Special and fragile finds were bagged in clear zip-lock bags, while ceramics, which comprised the majority, were bagged in black polythene bags. The excavation revealed four main cultural layers and a fifth layer that did not contain any cultural material. There were clear traces of collapsed wall material and a wall stump (W 01) constructed into the natural laterite platform, extending 0.90m deep and stretching from the north-western to the north-eastern part of the trench. To verify if the trench had reached sterile soil, a 1m x 1m unit was excavated in the middle part of the trench. This test-pit, excavated to a depth of 18cm (from 260cm to 278cm), revealed no cultural materials, only a reddish laterite natural layer.

Artifacts Recovered: Ceramics, smoking pipes, faunal remains, metal objects (iron and copper), beads, crucibles, and flakes.