Between January 10th and February 1st, the CongUbangi team conducted its first archaeological mission to the Central African Republic.
The archaeology team, made up of Peter R. Coutros, Lucien Nguerede, and Henri Zana joined Professor Karen Lupo and Dave Schmitt from Southern Methodist University, and Emmanuelle Namkomana and Lira Bangué – two Master’s students from the University of Bangui – on a joint survey and excavation campaign along the Mpoko River north of Bangui. The joint teams identified numerous previously undocumented sites, including pottery and lithics scatters, and excavating four new trenches.
From there, the CongUbangi team traveled southwest to Mbaiki in order to expand the scope of the survey and excavation campaign. Peter, Lucien, and Henri documented more than a dozen archaeological sites, including ancient settlement and iron production locations. In addition to the archaeological work, the team conducted preliminary ethnographical interviews with metallurgists in the Mbaiki region. These artisans combined traditional and modern techniques in their work, which will provide much needed data on comparative forms of smelting and forging.
As this was the first CongUbangi mission to the Central African Republic, our team also met with Professor Gérard Gresenguet, Rector of the University of Bangui, to discuss current and future collaborations with Ghent University. Peter also gave a lecture to interested students and staff of the university about the research that the team was currently conducting, as well as the future plans for the project. In order to further incorporate the local communities into our research, Henri Zana conducted a radio interview with the local Mbaiki radio station, explaining the goals and methods of the archaeology portion of the project. In addition, Ambassador Patricia Mahoney chaired a roundtable with our team, Professor Rock Emmanual Youili-Mognaman (University of Bangui), Professor Bernard Simiti (University of Bangui), and representatives of the Ministry of Culture and the Boganda National Museum. These meetings have laid the foundations for a long-term partnership between the CongUbangi project, Ghent University, and the political and academic institutions across the Central African Republic invested in cultural patrimony.
