Excavations at one of the earliest palaces in West Africa(Gao, 10th century) and surrounding areas

[EdJo]

Entrance of the big building of Gao-Ancient

Plan of the buildings of Gao-Ancient

Interior of the small building of Gao-Ancient

Bathroom of the small building of Gao Saney

"The strategic importance of Gao did not diminish during the historical period. Early Arabic texts concerning Bilād al-Sūdān never fail to mention it. The text of al-Khuwārizmī written before his death in 846-847, which is the oldest extant document referring to West Africa, cites Gao1 as one of the mains towns of West Africa, together with Ghāna and Zaghawa (Levtzion & Hopkins 1981: 8). According to al-Ya’qūbī who wrote in 872-873, Gao was “the greatest of the realms of the Sūdān, the most important and powerful. All the kingdoms obey its king. Al-Kawkaw is the name of the town”

For more info, about the palace, just click on the link:

Discovery of the earliest royal palace in Gao and its implications ...

 

[EdJo]

Not so much is found online about the palace. I only found this picture:

From Cambridge University Press

Another sad part is, it seems that USA troops have bases near the ancient palace:

 

[EdJo]

"Located at the confluence of the Niger River and the Tilemsi Valley below the Ahaggar Mountains via the Adrar of Iforas, Gao was one of the oldest and most important commercial centers in West Africa. Since the beginning of the first millennium bc, Gao was linked with North African coastal cities by the “route des chariots” that Henri Lhote (1958: 24-25) reconstituted from the rock paintings dispersed in the mountains of the central Sahara."

Now, this part above caught my attention. It doesn't make any sense to say that "sub-saharan Africans" didn't have knowledge of the wheel, when chariots were circulating in West Africa for trade.

Also:
"It seems probable that a chariot route ran from Tripoli all the way down to Gao in Nigeria."

Atlas of Travel and Tourism Development

There needs to be extensive studies on West Africa ancient empires. Mainly Gao, Ghana, Kanem and the kingdoms that used to be in Northern Nigeria.

 

[Neuromancer]

subs