Historical sites in Nigeria: Igbo Ukwu

The people of Igbo-ukwu are one of the Igbo-speaking people in the south east geopolitical zone of Nigeria, They are specifically found in Anambra state of Nigeria.

Igbo ukwu used to be part of Uri kingdom which existed in the 10^th century.

The town is known for popular archaeological sites where for the first time sophisticated and precious bronze works were discovered.

FIGURES AND ARTIFACTS

The history behind the discovery of Igbo-ukwu culture can be traced to the excavation carried out by professor THURSAN SHAWN in 1960 and 1964.

The discoveries in Igbo ukwu signifies things that showed the traditional burial sites of their rulers, i.e burial chambers, further more, the discovery of Igbo-ukwu culture which was achieved in 1938, led to the process of digging of small area in one of the seven quarters in Igbo-ukwu higly decorated bronze objects.

These sites were named after the compound where they were found, each sites had its peculiar discoveries , they are the following;

Igbo-Isaiah; In ISAIAH ANOZIE compound a shrine was discovered , the major artifacts in the shrine were a rope pot, an altar stand, beaded chains and crotals, a bowl on stand etc

Igbo-Richard ;.  In the compound of RICHARD ANOZIE, the tomb [ burial chamber] of a priest king was discovered, The followimg were also found with this corpse, cooper anklets and strings of beads, breastplate, beaded head dress, bronze crown, bronze leopard skull, etc

Igbo-Jonah; in the compound of JONAH ANOZIE, a refuse dump where most decorated pot that was ever made by any potter before discovered.

OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF IGBO UKWU

Igbo ukwu ancestors according to history were smithers of copper and its alloys, They were among the west African people that used lost wax casting method for bronze sculpture production

besides, like their other Igbos they were great farmers known for the production of mostly food crops like cassava, yam, cocoyam, etc.Thye were popular for tapping and sale of palm wine,

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NOK, IFE, BENIN, AND IGBO-UKWU IN RELATION TO NIGERIAN HISTORY

[1] They showed beyond any doubt that the people of Nigeria had their own form of technology, i.e civilization, e.g the use of metals to produce tools and implements for various uses

[2] They also showed that the people of Nigeria before the arrival of Europeans enjoyed various degrees of development, e;g settled Ife

[3]The discoveries of various objects such as brass and bronze helped to promote the culture of the people of Nigerian to the outside world E.g,  FESTAC symbols that was stolen by British soldiers when they invaded Benin in 1897

CLASS WORK;

[1] Locate Igbo Ukwu on Nigeria map

[2] mention the three major archaeological sites in Igbo-ukwu

[3] state any two significance of Igbo-ukwu culture to Nigerian history

ASSIGNMENT;

DRAW THE MAP OF NIGERIA