Megaliths in Tropical Africa: Social Dynamics and Mortuary Practices in Ancient Senegambia (ca. 1350 BCE – 1500 CE)

Senegambian megalithism, spanning from 1450 BCE to 1500 CE, emerged as a territorial strategy and a complex mortuary program rooted in the construction of Ancestorhood. This study reveals that the stone circles and other megalithic structures were not merely burial sites but part of a broader cultural landscape shaped by interactions between agriculturalists, foragers, pastoralists, and fishermen. The research, conducted by the Sine Ngayene Archaeological Project (2002-2012), systematically analyzes the 'why' behind these monuments, emphasizing their role in marking territory and preserving elaborate burial practices that reflect the social dynamics of ancient Senegambia.

Holl, A. F. C. (2021). Megaliths in Tropical Africa: Social Dynamics and Mortuary Practices in Ancient Senegambia (ca. 1350 BCE – 1500 CE). International Journal of Modern Anthropology, 15(2), 363–412. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijma.v15i2.1