Smoking pipes and the dating of post 16th century in Ghana: the evidence from Ahwene Koko

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Periodical article

Title:	Smoking pipes and the dating of post 16th century in Ghana: the evidence from Ahwene Koko
Author:	Boachie-Ansah, J.
Year:	1986
Periodical:	West African Journal of Archaeology
Volume:	16
Pages:	53-70
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	archaeology smoking pipes chronology
Abstract:	Smoking pipes have been used to date archaeological sites in Ghana. The present author reviews the typological classifications on which the dating is based, which were compiled by P. Ozanne in his work on imported and locally manufactured smoking pipes from Accra and Shai in southern Ghana (1962, n.d.). The paper presents a summary of Ozanne's work, outlines the criticism levelled against it in recent years, and assesses its dating potential in the light of recent evidence from archaeological excavations conducted by the author at Ahwene Koko, a site in the northwestern part of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana, in 1975. The author concludes that, apart from the dates assigned to the earliest European pipes and their local copies, the dates assigned to pipes on the coast to a large extent appear to be applicable to the hinterland. Ozanne's study can be useful, especially for inferring chronology of post-16th century settlements for which there are no documentary sources and traditions relating to chronology. Bibliogr., sum. in English.