AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF MERNYANG HILL SETTLEMENTS OF THE SOUTHERN JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA

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Department of Arts

ABSTRACT
This work entails an archaeological study of five hill settlements occupied by the Mernyang ethnic group in the southern part of the Jos Plateau. The research area was chosen because the Jos Plateau region especially its northern part, presents evidence for a very long period of human antiquity, however for the Qua‟anpan area in the south which had attracted the attention of anthropologists, not much archaeological research has been conducted. Therefore, the researcher saw the need to conduct an archaeological study of this area in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the history of the people of the Jos Plateau and to provide a reference material for subsequent cultural researches. This research was carried out with the aim of understanding the cultural characteristics of the past inhabitants of the area. This was achieved by the review of literatures on the Jos Plateau and the site in particular, collection of oral histories, study of material cultures, archaeological survey and mapping of abandoned areas using the GIS of Kofyar, Lardang, Bong, Zuwakal and Mer hill settlements. The use of contextual archaeology was employed during the survey, collection of data and analysis of materials, while human adaptation theory of cultural ecology was applied in the interpretation of data. Material evidence of past human activities revealed during the survey of five Mernyang hill settlements include house foundations, graves, farm terraces, ritual areas, lower grinding stones and hollowed rocks; monolith, partially buried pots and whetstones. Analysis of data reveal similarities in pattern of compounds, types of pottery based on form and decorative motifs, terrace farming and ritual system in all the five sites which suggest that the past occupants of the area may have belonged to the same cultural group. Through this research, the distribution of past human activities on the landscape which was determined by land, labour, water and security were revealed. Other adaptive strategies such as the intensive agricultural system of the Mernyang people using terraces and crop rotation and the practice of African traditional religion were revealed.