Potential of the Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT) in detecting and mapping archaeological sites using remotely sensed images By Serge Kiala, Origins Centre MAEASaM Research Hub, Wits University, South Africa Over the past few decades, there have been several challenges in studies that have attempted to map archaeological …
A granary or letlole in Setswana and translated to ‘basket of wealth’ is a large rectangular superstructure usually about 2 metres by 3 metres in diameter, storing grains with a capacity of 1.5-2.5 tonnes. The walls of the structures are constructed using mud/soil mixed with fresh cow dung, …
A view from above but with a different perspective! by Renier van der Merwe Reconstructing past landscapes can be tricky, however there are different freely available applications that can make this process easier! Renier van der Merwe, MAEASaM Researcher based at Wits University in Johannesburg, South, demonstrates this using two …
Located in the Inland Niger Delta of Mali, Jenne-Jeno is one of the oldest cities in sub-Saharan Africa. With the archaeological sites of Kaniana, Tonomba and Hambarketolo and the ancient fabric of the historic town of Jenne, it makes up the cultural property – Old Towns of Djenné. The city …
By: Mamadou Thior, Adama Athie, and Nicolas Sagna (University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar) Voilà ce qu’est devenu le site de Faboura (fig. 1) est l’un des célèbres sites d’amas coquilliers du Sénégal qui atteignait environ 10 m de haut et 400 m de diamètre. Suite à l’exploitation du coquillage comme …
Next to the town of Lobaste in Botswana, lies the ancient Tswana city of Seoke, which was inhabited by approximately 10,000 people in the late 1700s. Google Earth survey and ground verification conducted by a team led by our MAEASaM project manager, Stefania Merlo, in the past 10 years have …
Great Zimbabwe is a renowned UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. This 12th to 16th century capital was one of the most important political and religious centres in Sub-Saharan Africa. Great Zimbabwe is a true mark of what an urban environment means in an ever changing landscape, with its networks reaching …
Cenchrus ciliaris or more commonly known as mosekwangwetsi (Kalanga) or buffalo grass (en.), is a type of perennial, tufted grass that grows in the more arid areas of Southern Africa. In Botswana, the detection of this type of grass can be used to uncover ancient sites such as cattle enclosures …
At MAEASaM we are using historical maps to document archaeological sites, such as in this excerpt from the 1:250,000 series based on early 20th century surveys of Sudan. The map sheet was published in 1944 and can be accessed through https://www.loc.gov/item/87692353/. Sites can then possibly be verified with Google Earth, …
We aim to locate archaeological sites then ‘net’ them in the Arches-MAEASaM repository to help protect them. Plus some of us go fishing for real… MAEASaM’s Database Manager, Mahmoud Abdelrazek and coastal environment expert, Dr Mamadou Thior from Senegal, know how to celebrate World Maritime Day. …
