Typologie du mobilier métallique fondée sur les techniques de mise en forme

Abstract

Typologies of metal objects from an archaeological corpus are rare. Such classifications tend to focus on a specific artifact type that changes markedly over time and space and is therefore useful for seriation. The burials in the Upemba Depression cemeteries, Democratic Republic of Congo, have yielded a profusion and diversity of copper and iron material unmatched so far for Central and Southern Africa that offer great analytical opportunities. These are largery jewellery, objects that are more sensitive to the effects of fashion, and from closed contexts. This work describes exhaustively the metallic objects of one of these tombs, dated from the period of the Classic Kisalian, late 9th-early 12th century AD, and develops relevant criteria to build a comprehensive classification. The importance of backing a classic, formal typology by one based on manufacture techniques is emphasized. I propose here a new typology by setting out the manner in which it was developed, how it works, and how to use it for more fragmentary material from other contexts in Central and Southern Africa.

Keywords

• typology
• chaîne opératoire
• jewellery
• copper
• iron
• grave goods