Abstract
This study examines the use of wood resources for iron smelting and the impact of this on the forest and woodland resources of Odonoko-Odoroga in the Ijebu-Ode region of southwest Nigeria. Pollen analyses were conducted on sediments from an archaeological unit and a sediment core within the site of Odonoko-Odoroga. Before c. cal. AD 1435–1490, the environment was characterised by a vegetation complex of freshwater swamp and rainforests. After this period, iron smelting began in the community, indicated by the recovery of abundant iron slags from the archaeological context. The environment was transformed into a more open landscape with secondary forest and freshwater swamp forest trees being dominant. Several of the freshwater swamp forest tree species are associated with iron smelting in Yoruba traditions. Subsequently, as cultural materials (and iron slags in particular) drastically decreased, the majority of the freshwater swamp forest taxa also declined. In contrast, herbaceous plants, weeds and fungi associated with farming, animal husbandry and soil erosion increased significantly. These changes coincided with a shift from an iron-smelting society to one dominated by farming.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Before c. cal. AD 1435–1490 the vegetation was a complex of freshwater swamp and rainforest.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e1“Before c. cal. AD 1435–1490, the environment was characterised by a vegetation complex of freshwater swamp and rainforests”
Claim · model-written summary
Iron smelting began in the community, indicated by abundant iron slags.
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e2“iron smelting began in the community, indicated by the recovery of abundant iron slags”
Claim · model-written summary
The vegetation became a more open landscape with secondary forest and freshwater swamp forest trees dominant.
Verbatim
e3“The environment was transformed into a more open landscape with secondary forest and freshwater swamp forest trees being dominant”
Claim · model-written summary
Several freshwater swamp forest tree species are associated with iron smelting in Yoruba traditions.
- Taxon
- freshwater swamp forest tree speciese4
- Outcome
- associated with iron smelting in Yoruba traditionse4
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e4“Several of the freshwater swamp forest tree species are associated with iron smelting in Yoruba traditions”
Claim · model-written summary
The majority of freshwater swamp forest taxa declined as cultural materials decreased.
Verbatim
e5“as cultural materials (and iron slags in particular) drastically decreased, the majority of the freshwater swamp forest taxa also declined”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbaceous plants, weeds and fungi associated with farming and soil erosion increased significantly.
Verbatim
e6“herbaceous plants, weeds and fungi associated with farming, animal husbandry and soil erosion increased significantly”
Claim · model-written summary
The vegetation changes coincided with a shift from an iron-smelting society to one dominated by farming.
- Outcome
- a shift from an iron-smelting society to one dominated by farminge7
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e7“These changes coincided with a shift from an iron-smelting society to one dominated by farming”