specific 3 Flashcards
According to the archeological
record, the Nok flourished from approximately
900 bce to 200 ce
people migrated to the nok region around __ due to __
3000 bce;
increasing droughts and the resulting expansion of
inhospitable areas of desert in the north.
unique feature of nok region
annual monsoons that brought abundant water for
seven months out of the year
Nok civilization was
primarily __, though it was in the process of
evolving into a more sophisticated culture, with __
n eolithic;
iron
introduced around 400 BCE
The initial discovery of significant Nok sites occurred
in the
1880s
how were nok sites discovered?
british were trying to discover the source of tin
bernard fagg
came to the nok region in the 1940s as a cadet
administrator of mining operations who also happened
to have training in archeological studies. discovered “Jemaa Head”. worked diligently to ensure that miners
who unearthed such objects in the process of their
excavation operations alerted him to other discoveries.
Indeed, he worked with the local population
as he “sought to gain their cooperation in reporting
and preserving any artifact they would find instead
of destroying it by superstition or ignorance.”
describe mediums in nok terra cotta sculpture
They are coil-built of local
clays mixed with materials such as rock gravel
to add grit and to strengthen the clay so that it
does not break when exposed to high temperatures
during the firing process
nok sculpture – The surfaces of
the terracottas were made smooth through the application
of
a slip of ochre or a solution of decomposed
mica schist before firing
nok figures appear to depict __, as indicated by __
rulers, priests, or other high-ranking individuals;
as indicated by their elaborate hairstyles and costuming,
including ample beaded ornaments
nok figures – Archeological
evidence suggests that the figures were not
used in a funerary context:
they were not found in
tombs or in conjunction with human remains
nok figures – were probably used in religious ceremonies, as __
they
have been discovered in shrines or sacred house
and temple complexes.
artrepro Nok Sculpture: a __ form decorated w/ __
cylindrical;
series of reliefs
artrepro Nok Sculpture: depicts what?
series of narrative scenes. images
of mothers with children, as well as activities
of everyday life, such as processing grain, carrying
water, and cooking food.
who owns the Nok Sculpture?
Musee du Quai Branly in Paris
Nok Sculpture: above smaller relief figures, there are __
6 larger characters – 3 male, 3 female, arms raised, holding a massive snake
4 typical physical characteristics of Nok
characters
stylized eyes and eyebrows, exaggerated
lips and flared nostrils, broad foreheads, and
beaded necklaces.
what does the snake often symbolize in african culture?
A common symbol of fertility and the ancestors in
African culture
significance of snake in Nok Sculpture?
the snake’s connection to scenes
of agriculture and maternity here may relate the
sculpture to some sort of ritual practice connected
to fertility
Igbo Ukwu is a region in
eastern nigeria
describe the name ibgo ukwu
translates to “Great
Igbo” – a name intended “to distinguish it from other
places of that name.
Based on archeological
evidence at the site, the igbo ukwu area appears to have been
a major center for the Igbo people at one time. The
evidence of wealth indicates its function as the residence
of high-status individuals, possibly the priest
class or the king.
igbo ukwu – While the site originally functioned
as the heart of Igbo culture, it appears to have been
abandoned suddenly, possibly in the wake of some
disaster
the first nok bronze items were discovered by
a local
man, Isaiah Anozie, who was digging a hole in order
to install a water tank on his property
