Temporalising anthropology

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This volume presents the findings from extensive fieldwork in the Tong Hills of Northern Ghana, home to the Talensi ethno-linguistic group. While the area gained anthropological fame through Meyer Fortes, its archaeology and material culture had been largely overlooked until this research. The authors conducted thorough archaeological surveys and excavations, complemented by ethnoarchaeological and ethnobotanical studies focusing on shrines, sacrifice, and indigenous medicine. The data collected is meticulously described, and a settlement chronology for the region is reconstructed. The findings include geological, organic geochemical, petrographic, and archaeometallurgical analyses. The study evaluates the function of shrines and the concept of ‘shrine,’ while also examining indigenous medicinal practices, their connections to shrines, and their archaeological implications based on the gathered empirical material. Additionally, the relationship between ritual, performance, and the archaeological record is explored, challenging the notion of ‘timelessness’ in previous anthropological narratives. The Tong Hills are contextualized within the broader history and archaeology of the region, making this work valuable for those interested in African indigenous religions, ritual practices, West African history, and the intersection of archaeology and anthropology.