The Zooarchaeology of Horses and Donkeys in the Old Oyo Empire, West Africa

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Oyo Empire dominated the mainland of the Bight of Benin between the 17th and 18th centuries, with animals, especially horses, playing pivotal roles in its sociopolitical power, economy, ecology, and culture. Ede-Ile, located in the rainforest of southwestern Nigeria, was a crucial colony and military frontier of the Oyo Empire. However, the roles of domestic animals in Oyo colonial dynamics have been underexplored. This study presents osteological, paleopathological, and taphonomic analyses of 250 equid specimens from Ede-Ile. Our findings offer significant insights into the roles of equids in the Oyo Empire, highlighting their contributions to transportation and diet, as well as a breeding tradition that produced a small-statured yet robust equid population.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53895