Le mégalithisme au Grassland (Cameroun occidental)

Abstract

Megalithism, which appeared in prehistoric times and has been extinct for years in various regions, is still practised in Cameroon. All over the world and in many domains, it presents on the one hand disturbing similarities, and on the other differences according to cultures. It still contains many mysteries, raising outstanding scientific debates and questions. This paper emerges from this context, and presents the first research result and perspectives of work carried out in the Grassland (Cameroon) as part of the research project in partnership between IRD and the University of Yaounde I concerning megalithism. The work analyses, interprets, and leads one to discover new megaliths (fundamentally standing stones) of Grassland in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. It shows that megaliths of vast Grassland areas and those of Cameroon in general are not well known though still in practice; and that standing stones have been part of an intense social, spiritual and political life in the kingdoms for centuries. It explains the context in which megaliths are realized and used and also the building techniques, the history, forms, significances and functions of monuments, boosting documentary and field research relating to megalithism as significant deficiencies exist.

Keywords

• megalithism
• history