Africana Periodical Literature 
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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | The Early City in West Africa: Towards and Understanding |
| Authors: | McIntosh, Susan K. McIntosh, Roderick J. |
| Year: | 1984 |
| Periodical: | African Archaeological Review |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Pages: | 73-98 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | West Africa |
| Subjects: | urban society urban history settlement patterns History and Exploration Anthropology and Archaeology |
| External link: | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01117226 |
| Abstract: | The dominating paradigm of urbanism in West Africa is steadily shifting from the city-centric to the dynamic consideration of the city's function within a wider settlement hierarchy. The authors appraise these theoretical positions and discuss the methodologies appropriate to each. Following the thematic framework developed in the theory and method sections, we then consider what research at the major early town sites has to date revealed about the chronology, course, and circumstances of urbanism in West Africa. Data available from the several sites considered is highly uneven. Analysis, even when quality data are available, has in some cases been hindered by a limiting theoretical approach. Although urban investigations in West Africa are only in their infancy, it is clear that cities are but one of several institutions indicating the early, indigenous emergence of hierarchically-ordered societies. With the recent demonstration that at least some West African towns represent indigenous processes of urbanization, the comparative study of factors contributing to urban growth and alternative urban paths becomes imperative. Map, ref., sum. also in French. |
