Abstract
This study entails archaeological and anthropological investigations in parts of
northeast Osun. It also touches on aspects of previous archaeological works carried
out in the study area. The work examines the concepts of conflict, war and
displacement in the light of archaeological and anthropological evidences from the
area.
Before now, most archaeological works done in southwestern Nigeria were
concentrated on Ile-Ife, Benin, Old Oyo and Owo focussing mostly on art works in
bronze, terracotta, and wood. Other themes especially conflict, war and displacement
vital to the areas‘ history and archaeology have been neglected.
To understand this neglect, and other related issues in parts of Osun Northeast
of Osun State, Nigeria, series of archaeological works were carried out since 1992 by
the author. The first phase of the research work which took the author to Ila-Orangun,
Ila-Yara, Oyan, Asi, Asaba, Iresi and Ajaba (Kajola) was meant to expose the
archaeological potentials of this part of Osun northeast for future intensive
archaeological investigation (Ogunfolakan 2006). The second phase was a
continuation of the previous exercise with visits to other notable towns and villages in
Northeast Osun such as Oke-Ila, Ila-Magbon, Para-Oke, Otan-Ayegbaju, Ire, Ikirun
and revisit to Iresi which had earlier on been visited. This second phase was also
aimed at exposing the archaeological potentials of these towns and villages. Also a
potsherd pavement site at Ajaba earlier identified during the first phase was
excavated. This excavation was meant to identify the material content, orientation,
pattern and design of the pavement, so as to relate it to other known pavements in
other part of Yorubaland (Ile-Ife, Ila-Oranguun, Iragbiji, Otan-Ayegbaju, etc
(Ogunfolakan 2007). It was also meant to assess the relationship between the
pavement and a sacred grove ‗igbo‘aiko‘. The sacred grove was later revealed as part
of the abandoned settlement. Its investigation forms one of the bases for the study.
OGUNFOLAKAN, B (2021). Conflict, War, Displacement And Archaeology In Parts Of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/conflict-war-displacement-and-archaeology-in-parts-of-osun-state-southwestern-nigeria-2
OGUNFOLAKAN, BENJAMIN "Conflict, War, Displacement And Archaeology In Parts Of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 12 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/conflict-war-displacement-and-archaeology-in-parts-of-osun-state-southwestern-nigeria-2. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
OGUNFOLAKAN, BENJAMIN . "Conflict, War, Displacement And Archaeology In Parts Of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 12 Apr. 2021. Web. 14 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/conflict-war-displacement-and-archaeology-in-parts-of-osun-state-southwestern-nigeria-2 >.
OGUNFOLAKAN, BENJAMIN . "Conflict, War, Displacement And Archaeology In Parts Of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 14, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/conflict-war-displacement-and-archaeology-in-parts-of-osun-state-southwestern-nigeria-2