Rop rock shelter
Encyclopedia
The Rop rock shelter is an archaeological site on the Jos Plateau
of Nigeria
.
There are two layers containing artifacts.
The first holds large scrapers and backed crescent-shaped stone tools.
The later (upper) layer is about 2000 years old, and contains backed microlithic tools and pottery.
The shelter is about 50km south of Jos
.
The site was excavated by Bernard Fagg
in 1944.
He discovered microliths, fragments of ground stone axes, two bored stones, one grooved stone, rubbed hematites
and many potsherds.
The lower, undated layer held relatively crude implements, apart from the rough crescents.
The later layer held higher-quality microliths, geometrical forms and small points, as well as pottery.
This later layer only covers part of the site.
A skeleton was also found in a shallow grave, dated to around 25 B.C.
From the teeth, it appeared that the owner had lived largely on a starchy, plant-based diet.
A single equid tooth was found with the same age (before 0 AD) based on its position in the stratum.
Jos Plateau
The Jos Plateau is a plateau located near the center of Nigeria. It covers 8600 km² and is bounded by 300-600 meter escarpments around much of its circumference. With an average altitude of 1280 metres and its highest point is Shere Hills 1829 meters...
of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
There are two layers containing artifacts.
The first holds large scrapers and backed crescent-shaped stone tools.
The later (upper) layer is about 2000 years old, and contains backed microlithic tools and pottery.
The shelter is about 50km south of Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
.
The site was excavated by Bernard Fagg
Bernard Fagg
Bernard Evelyn Buller Fagg was a British archaeologist and Museum curator who undertook extensive work in Nigeria before and after the Second World War....
in 1944.
He discovered microliths, fragments of ground stone axes, two bored stones, one grooved stone, rubbed hematites
Hematites
Hematites is a genus of belemnite from the Mississippian Epoch....
and many potsherds.
The lower, undated layer held relatively crude implements, apart from the rough crescents.
The later layer held higher-quality microliths, geometrical forms and small points, as well as pottery.
This later layer only covers part of the site.
A skeleton was also found in a shallow grave, dated to around 25 B.C.
From the teeth, it appeared that the owner had lived largely on a starchy, plant-based diet.
A single equid tooth was found with the same age (before 0 AD) based on its position in the stratum.