
Chris Gosden (ed.)
et al.
Published online:
18 September 2012
Published in print:
26 March 2009
Online ISBN:
9780191743443
Print ISBN:
9780199271016
Contents
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Introduction Introduction
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Frameworks Frameworks
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Chronology, Time-Scale, and Dating Chronology, Time-Scale, and Dating
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Physiography Physiography
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History of Archaeological and Paleo-Anthropological Research History of Archaeological and Paleo-Anthropological Research
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African technologies, settlements, and worldview African technologies, settlements, and worldview
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Themes in Africanist archaeology Themes in Africanist archaeology
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Human evolution and foraging practices during the Pleistocene Human evolution and foraging practices during the Pleistocene
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Ceremonial and ritual as expressed in artistic traditions Ceremonial and ritual as expressed in artistic traditions
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Towards increased sedentism during the terminal pleistocene and holocene Towards increased sedentism during the terminal pleistocene and holocene
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The emergence and expansion of iron-using agro-pastoral societies in eastern and southern africa The emergence and expansion of iron-using agro-pastoral societies in eastern and southern africa
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The emergence and development of urbanism and complex societies The emergence and development of urbanism and complex societies
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Archaeology in history Archaeology in history
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Conclusion: the African past in the twenty-first century Conclusion: the African past in the twenty-first century
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References References
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Chapter
24 The Archaeology of Sub-Saharan Africa
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Innocent Pikirayi
Innocent Pikirayi
Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Pretoria
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Innocent Pikirayi is Associate Professor in Archaeology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Pages
723–762
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Published:18 September 2012
Cite
Pikirayi, Innocent, ' The Archaeology of Sub-Saharan Africa', in Chris Gosden, Barry Cunliffe, and Rosemary A. Joyce (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology (2009; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 Sept. 2012), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199271016.013.0024, accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Abstract
This article provides an overview of sub-Saharan Africa's past from the Plio-Pleistocene era to the modern era, a period of more than 4 million years. It aims to present a synthesis of African prehistory in order to demonstrate the richness and complexity of its past and its relevance for the wider global picture. It explains that as sub-Saharan Africa enters the twenty-first century its archaeology faces new challenges and the biggest challenge for sub-Saharan archaeology is latent political instability, underdevelopment, poverty, and more recently HIV/AIDS.
Keywords:
Sub-Saharan Africa, Plio-Pleistocene, African prehistory, political instability, poverty, HIV/AIDS
Series
Oxford Handbooks
Collection:
Oxford Handbooks Online
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