Initial Results from Magnetometer Survey at the Sacred Site of Dakajalan, Mali

Summary

In the spring of 2017 geophysical remote sensing surveys were conducted across three locations at and around the Dakajalan sacred site, Commune Rurale de Sanankoroba, Mali in order to detect anomalies associated with archaeological features. This site has been described in oral tradition as the location where the battle that proceeded the formation of the Mali Empire took place, and also where the village that acted as the first capital of the newly formed empire was located. Surface survey of various locales, including the proposed military camp, battlefield, sacred overlook, iron smelting sites, and surrounding areas was carried out. Then, small-scale magnetometry surveys were undertaken at the most promising locations. Results of these surveys not only provide information on potential archaeological features in some areas, but also reveal the benefits and difficulties of using this survey technique on the laterite-rich soils of southwestern Mali.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20061