Some Iron Age Wares from Central Tanzania

Abstract

Summary The paper describes pottery from several sites in two geographically distinct areas of Tanzania: Irangi on the escarpment near the western edge of the Masai Steppe and Isanzu in Singida Region. In Irangi two major wares were distinguished: Haubi ware which is probably associated with a ‘burnt brick’ site and which is decorated in a ‘dotted wavy line’ technique; and Kandaga ware which was found in and near a rock-shelter and is decorated with deep impressions arranged in lines or with grooves. Haubi ware has not been dated, but for the Kandaga ware several C14 dates are available. They are recent, showing that the pottery probably dates from after 1650. From other evidence one can deduce that this ware is older than 1850 and we may therefore provisionally assign it to the eighteenth century. The finds in Isanzu make it possible to reconstruct three vessel types of the cord-impressed ware to which Odner has already drawn attention; and of plaited cord-roulette ware which is probably sub-recent.