The Evolution of Complex Societies in Bunyoro-Kitara, Uganda

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9320392 Robertshaw With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Peter Robertshaw and his colleagues will conduct archaeological research in the region of Bunyoro-Kitara which is located in Uganda. Prior work has revealed the presence of large earthworks which bespeak to the past presence of large scale highly organized societies. More recent work by Dr. Robertshaw has also located numerous archaeological sites which are not associated with such structures. Over the course of three field seasons the team plans to excavate a series of these sites. During the first season the potential for excavation of known earthworks will be assessed, further archaeological surveys will be conducted and a program of thermoluminescence dating of pottery will be initiated. During the second season, work will focus on the intensive excavation of several sites. It is anticipated that this will result in the location of both elite and commoner areas and the recovery of substantial samples of artifacts, and vegetal and faunal remains which will provide a basis for the reconstruction of social organization and economy. In the final season, an additional site will be excavated, survey will continue and recovered materials will be analyzed. Archaeologists wish to understand how complex social units such as states arise. Evidence indicates that this process took place independently in many parts of the world and through comparison of individual cases it should be possible to discern the underlying causes responsible. Although relatively little work has been done in this area, Africa has much to contribute. European explorers, when they entered this region, found well developed states and many have been ethnographically described. Because groups in the region have extensive oral traditions, this source of data provides valuable additional insight. However very little archaeological work has been done and the prehistory of these observed entities is poorly understood. Dr. Robertshaw's research should help to correct this situation. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It should increase our understanding of how state formation takes place and will encourage international collaboration between U.S. and African scientists. ***