LXᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – XLᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Middle Nile and southern Sahara margins
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The Khartoum Mesolithic was a pre-agricultural culture associated with seasonal or extended occupation of a type-site in the Nile Valley. Its economy included fishing, the collection of wild fruits, and the use of diverse animal resources; bone harpoons and grinding stones are reported. Reed shelters covered with clay and decorated brown pottery are characteristic features, while related pottery spread across a wide zone south of the Sahara through diffusion among local communities.
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Le récit
The Khartoum Mesolithic provides evidence for increasing sedentariness before the full establishment of agriculture in the Nile Valley. Its type-site appears to have been occupied at least seasonally for a considerable period, indicating repeated use of a favourable location rather than a brief hunting camp. The community drew on the abundant resources of river and savanna environments.
Fishing was important, as indicated by bone harpoons, while grinding stones and gathered fruits point to a broad collecting economy. The grinding stones may have been used for ochre rather than cereals, so they cannot by themselves demonstrate food production. Wild fruit from trees such as Celtis integrifolia formed part of the available resources alongside animal exploitation.
The inhabitants constructed shelters from reeds covered with clay. Brown pottery bowls were decorated first with wavy lines and later also with dots, and related pottery has been found from Dongola and Kassala westward to the Ennedi, Tenere, and Ahaggar. The wide distribution is interpreted cautiously: pottery appears to have diffused among established local groups with different lithic industries, rather than marking a single migrating population.
LXᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – XLᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Middle Nile and southern Sahara margins
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Khartoum Mesolithic was a pre-agricultural culture associated with seasonal or extended occupation of a type-site in the Nile Valley. Its economy included fishing, the collection of wild fruits, and the use of diverse animal resources; bone harpoons and grinding stones are reported. Reed shelters covered with clay and decorated brown pottery are characteristic features, while related pottery spread across a wide zone south of the Sahara through diffusion among local communities.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Khartoum Mesolithic provides evidence for increasing sedentariness before the full establishment of agriculture in the Nile Valley. Its type-site appears to have been occupied at least seasonally for a considerable period, indicating repeated use of a favourable location rather than a brief hunting camp. The community drew on the abundant resources of river and savanna environments.
Fishing was important, as indicated by bone harpoons, while grinding stones and gathered fruits point to a broad collecting economy. The grinding stones may have been used for ochre rather than cereals, so they cannot by themselves demonstrate food production. Wild fruit from trees such as Celtis integrifolia formed part of the available resources alongside animal exploitation.
The inhabitants constructed shelters from reeds covered with clay. Brown pottery bowls were decorated first with wavy lines and later also with dots, and related pottery has been found from Dongola and Kassala westward to the Ennedi, Tenere, and Ahaggar. The wide distribution is interpreted cautiously: pottery appears to have diffused among established local groups with different lithic industries, rather than marking a single migrating population.
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