Gajiganna A
Basic information
Sample name: Gajiganna A

Reference: P. Breunig, K. Neumann, and W. Van Neer. 1996. New research on the Holocene settlement and environment of the Chad Basin in Nigeria. African Archaeological Review 13(2):111-145 [ER 3367]
Geography
Country: Nigeria

Coordinate: 12° 16' N, 13° 13' E
Latlng basis: estimated from map

Time interval: Holocene

Max Ma: 0.00296

Min Ma: 0.00293

Age basis: radiocarbon (calibrated)

Geography comments: "80 km north of Konduga"
"The upper part of the meter-thick main cultural layer... is dated to 2960 B.P. ± 50 years (1286-1022 CalBc, UtC-2795)... The lower cultural lauyer, only some 20 cm thick, is dated to 2930 B.P. ± 60 years (1236-1009 CalBC, UtC-2329)"

Environment
Lithology: claystone

Taphonomic context: human accumulation

Archaeology: bone tools, buildings, burials, ceramics, hearths, stone tools

Habitat comments: a low mound "around 2 m in height and 150 m in diameter... surrounded by clay flats"
"about 2 m of deposits... The sediment in these layers consists largely of clay... we assume that the clay was brought onto the site by the inhabitants in the form of mud-bricks or, more probably, daub for houses" and there is "well-preserved organic material: pollen, animal bones, and charcoal"
"graves are confined to the upper cultural layer of Gajiganna A" and there is abundant pottery plus some lithic artefacts including grinding stones, stone axes, adzes, chisels, and arrowheads, plus bone artifacts including harpoons and clay figurines

Methods
Life forms: carnivores, primates, rodents, ungulates, birds, turtles, fishes, clams, snails

Sampling methods: quarry

Sample size: 1484 specimens

Net or trap nights: 0

Basal area status: not applicable

Sampling comments: a "5 x 5-m" trench was excavated "at the highest point" of the mound

Metadata
Sample no: 3724

Contributor no: John Alroy

Enterer: John Alroy

Created: 2020-12-02 13:12:19

Modified: 2020-12-02 04:04:00

Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
31 species
10 singletons
total count 1484
geometric series index: 60.4
Fisher's α: 5.542
geometric series k: 0.7985
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.5961
Shannon's H: 1.3502
Good's u: 0.9933
Register
Aspatharia sp. 4
compared to
Pila cf. wernei 50
Limicolaria sp. 3
Polypterus sp. 1
Heterotis niloticus 1
Gymnarchus niloticus 2
Clarias spp. 385
Pelusios sp. 15
Ardea sp. 2
Leptoptilus crumeniferus 1
Plectropterus gambensis 23.9 kg
Sarkidiornis melanota 1
Alopochen aegyptiaca 3
Aegypinae indet.1
Francolinus sp. 1
Numida meleagris 31.3 kg
Galinulla chloropus 1
Cricetomys gambianus 11.4 kg
Arvicanthis niloticus 290.6 g
Cercopithecus sp. 4
Canis sp. 6
Viverridae indet. small3
Viverridae indet. large7
Felis lybica (African wildcat)14.5 kg
Leptailurus serval (serval)4
"Felis serval"
Phacochoerus africanus (common warthog)1882.0 kg
"Phacochoerus aethiopicus"
Redunca redunca (Bohor reedbuck)3144.0 kg
Sylvicapra grimmia (common duiker)213.0 kg
Ovis aries (sheep)1
"Ovis ammon aries"
Capra aegagrus hircus (wild goat)73
Bos taurus (cow)855
"Bos primigenius taurus"