Tracing connections: Exploring links between Marandet (Central Niger) and the Chad Basin through pottery provenance analysis using pXRF

Abstract

Long-distance connections in medieval West Africa are documented through written sources and exotic finds. However, both are relatively rare. As an abundant artifact category, pottery can provide a more comprehensive picture of past interactions. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) offers a rapid and cost-effective method for ceramic provenance analysis, allowing researchers to trace the exchange of vessels between different regions. In this study, we established reference groups for various regions in West Africa using research collections. Local ceramics were identified based on typological and geochemical characteristics, and their geochemical signatures were extracted using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Additionally, pXRF was used to analyze ceramic assemblages and identify imported sherds. This approach was particularly useful for the identification of Sgraffito ceramics found in Marandet, which are atypical for the region. Through comparison with reference groups, these sherds were attributed to the western Lake Chad area. Other non-local sherds from Marandet could be linked to the northwestern Lake Chad Basin. This indicates diverse connections between Marandet and the Lake Chad Basin. These results demonstrate that pXRF is a valuable tool for the provenance analysis of widely exchanged ceramics in West Africa.