Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
| Location | Burkina Faso |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi) |
| Reference | 1602 |
| Inscription | 2019 (43rd Session) |
| Area | 122.3 ha (0.472 sq mi) |
| Coordinates | 12°35′16″N 3°19′44″W / 12.58776°N 3.328986°W |
  Location of Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso in Burkina Faso | |
The Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso are a collection of ancient metallurgy sites across five locations in the Nord and Centre-Nord regions of Burkina Faso, used to extract iron from ore.[1] The oldest of these structures are dated from roughly 800 BC, making them the most ancient known examples of metallurgy in Burkina Faso. In 2019, the sites were registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of the exemplary evidence of ancient metalworking. [1]
Description[]
The five metalworking complexes that make up the World Heritage Site are located around the towns of Douroula, Tiwêga, Yamané, Kindibo, and Békuy. All together, there are 15 blast furnace ruins across the five sites, with smaller furnaces, mines and dwellings surrounding them.[1] The blast furnaces reach up to five meters in height and are direct-induction, only requiring ambient airflow to operate. [2] The other, smaller furnaces would have required the use of bellows to operate. Whereas the large, natural-draught furnaces are only found in those regions of Burkina Faso, the smaller furnaces are found throughout the country.[2]
The Tiwêga site, located 5 kilometers to the west of Kaya, contains three direct-induction furnaces built in the shape of truncated cones. Based on oral traditions, these furnaces may have been built between the 15th and 18th centuries, still being used during Burkina Faso's colonial period, although more archeological research is needed to precisely date the furnaces.[3]
The Yamané and Kindibo sites also contain multiple large furnaces built in a similar manner. These furnaces have been dated to the 13-14th and 10-11th centuries, respectively. The smaller, surrounding furnaces are much newer, being built after the 15th century.[2]
The Békuy site is unusual for its large amount of accumulated slag, which forms mounds near the furnace ruins that reach up to 11 meters high. The furnaces at this site are older (500-400 BC) and are partially underground, requiring the use of a bellows. [2]
The oldest furnaces within this site are found at the Douroula site, with the metalworks there dated to the 8th century BC. This site contains the oldest known record of iron metallurgy in Burkina Faso.[1]
With the invasion and colonization of Burkina Faso in the 1890s by the French, and the subsequent formation of the Upper Volta colony, the use of these ancient furnaces waned. [4] However, iron is still extracted and worked in the region. [1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e "Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso". UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Ministere de la culture, des arts et du tourisme (Burkina Faso) (Jan 2018). Direction des sites clases - Patrimoine Mondial: Sites de Métallurgie Ancienne du Fer (Report). UNESCO. Retrieved 21 March 2021.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- ^ "LE SITE DE TIWÊGA". Tourisme au Burkina Faso. Office du tourisme du Burkina Faso. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Jean-Baptiste Kiéthéga (2009), p. 7.
- World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso
- Archaeological sites in Burkina Faso