Cultural Succession and Continuity in S.E. Nigeria

Excavations at the Ugwuagu Rockshelter and the Ugwuagu Abandoned Village Sites, all in Afikpo, form the basis of this book. The excavations were carried out in 1975 with the aims of providing some information on the Late Stone Age of the area, providing comparable material for the Ukpa rockshelter excavated by Hartle in 1966 and investigating the post Late Stone Age developments of the area in search of continuity or break in the assemblages from Late Stone Age times to the present. A definite aceramic horizon was confirmed for the rockshelter and the book presents a picture of gradual change from Late Stone Age hunting/gathering to an early agricultural economy. The village sites represent a fully agro-based community. Continuity was attested by the presence of similar types of pottery in both rockshelter and village sites, but the disparity in C-14 dates shows a hiatus of nearly 1000 years.