The renowned lost city of Atlantis is a well known discussion among archeologists, divers, occults and the world at large. The city of Atlantis located on an island whose pinpoint location is still a debate is believed to have exceeded the civilization of its time at all angles. Without warning some mysterious fate befell the majestic civilization, everything went under the sea and became lost to time.
Some distance from the present day Kaduna city and stretching into Jos in Nigeria (covering about 30,000 miles) lies the African version of Atlantis. One might argue a difference exists between the European Atlantis and African Atlantis since the later was not lost to the sea.
British archaeologist Bernard Fagg, beginning in 1943 spent years in Taruga village discovering terracotta artifacts of different types. His extensive work may be the only means of getting a glimpse of what this civilization was like. Fagg conducted soil analysis of the area where these terracotta artifacts were excavated, the result placed a civilization 2518 years ago at the location. Having a civilization in the area at such age (500BC) did not prove too much surprise rather later discoveries surprised all.
The art involved in the level of expertise in terracotta making was too advanced, more advance for people of that age living in the Taruga region. Apart from Egypt's rapid advancement in arts, archeologists and the world at large believed Africa's civilization happened very slowly. The terracotta arts were well carved with baked earth, the art splendid and more advanced than any in East or central Europe except a few of the time.
Another discovery which got Fagg more amazed were iron furnaces. These furnaces proved the ancient Nok civilization knew iron and excellently worked with iron. It is now clear the ancient Nok people were skilled blacksmiths and artisans. Fagg deduced after careful observation that the civilization must have boasted enough population to support such advancement in art. Fagg went ahead to make more discoveries, some of the terracotta artifacts were arranged or placed in a way suggesting worship. Most of these carvings are now seen as objects of worship. Fagg concluded using found clues such as iron smelting, arts and religion,a thriving society well advanced once flourished in the northern part of Nigeria especially the area surrounding Taruga and Samun Dukiya areas. In his own writing he wrote "It was the product of a mature tradition,............with the probability of a long antecedent history, of which as yet, no trace has been found." Fagg was greatly intrigued by his findings that he wrote strongly about the lost civilization of Africa.
The bell he rang drew more archeologists to the site and more discoveries were made. Apart from ancient Egypt, the Nok civilization was a towering one in sculpturing. The ancient Nok civilization also excelled in tool making especially those requiring iron. If we look at the process development of ironworks, there is a chain of learning. The use of iron and iron tools were introduced to other regions of Africa from North Africa progressively. The discovery of Ironworks wrought as early as 500BC in areas the Nok civilization once stood suggests West Africa independently began blacksmiths (There might have been an exception on the movement of iron from North Africa to other parts of Africa). We can come to the conclusion West Africa had skilled and intelligent populace centuries ago.
Agriculture thrived during the Nok civilization. Grain might have been the chief crop due to adverse climatic conditions of Northern Nigerian. Less annual rainfall allowed for cultivation of drought resistant crops such as millet and cow pea. They planted fruit trees and harvested the fruits during harvest seasons.
The excavated figures certainly shows what everyday Nok citizen might have looked like. The well folded-hair designs of female Nok head may suggest elaborate interest in beauty and hair-making. Some of the figures were adorned with well made necklaces and beads. These are pointers to the fact the Nok society embraced beauty as a fundamental aspect of their society.
Like Atlantis, the sudden decline and demise of this once prosperous civilization remain a mystery. We are left to imagine a cause likely not to be known. The Nok civilization which thrived about 2518 years ago left only artifacts as evidences of a once prosperous nation.
These discoveries made were halted for a time due to the sudden abandoning of the site. The area which once sparked curiosity was left unattended rather looters and criminals continued the excavation. They sold whatever came out of the ground to black marketers, this is a testament of Africa's irresponsible leaders. Many terracotta from this region have been illegally shipped to other countries. Many are found in world renowned museums were they are illegally placed on display especially in Britain.
No comments:
Post a Comment