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Bead Polisher

Bead Polisher

Description

It is made out of sandstone, which serves as a bead polisher. They may have been used for polishing imported beads or grinding local stones, shells, and glass beads. It measures 3.91 cm and has 5 grooves at different sides.

Typology

N/A

Chronology

N/A

Comments

It was found at level 4. Similar grooved sandstones have been found along the coast at Elmina, Ankobra, Secondi, and Winneba.

Provenience (context)

Project Label: BAAP'2020

Excavation Type: Trench

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

Trench Dimension: 2x10m

Record Date: Jan. 7, 2020

Recorded By: Priscilla

Excavated By: Edward

Level: 4

Depth Range: 60-80 cm

Soil Description: Black

Artifacts Recovered: Bones, Pottery, Special Finds

Bag Number: 4

Samples Taken: None

Field Notes: No field notes 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.