Anthracological analysis of charcoal from Bara, Southwestern Nigeria: implications for paleoenvironment and firewood history

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Charcoal samples from different archaeological contexts at the site of Bara, in southwest Nigeria, were subjected to anthracological study. The sites investigated—residential structures, refuse deposits, and ceremonial centers-were from different cultural phases and settlement contexts ranging from ca. 400 BC during the Early Iron Age to the Oyo Imperial period during AD 1570–1835. The total number of charcoal pieces investigated is 2,972, constituting 4,458.2 g. All charcoal pieces that were more than 4 mm in size were included in the study. The anatomical features of each taxon were investigated in detail by the cross-sectional, tangential, and radial faces. The charcoal types were compared with burned wood/charcoal reference materials and a description of taxon characters present in the InsideWood database and IAWA list of microscopic features for hardwood identification. The identified types include species native to sub-Saharan African dry savanna, woodland savanna, and moist forests. This study offers the first comprehensive anthracological database in southwest Nigeria and provides the basis for reconstructing the long-term environmental history and household plant utilization from c. 400 BC to AD 1835.

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