Dr. Kevin MacDonald

And the old idea, so the first archaeologist to work on the Nocte Calus and publish a book on them was Bernard Fagg. One of his hypotheses was that these might have been, because they're sort of tubular and they're hollow, right? I mean, they're not, they do a lot to disguise the tubular nature, but he was saying they could be used as finials at the entrances of houses.

So almost like house markers, you know, where you'd have them stuck up outside your front door. That's also to explain why there are so many of them.

So almost like house markers, you know, where you'd have them stuck up outside your front door. That's also to explain why there are so many of them.

So almost like house markers, you know, where you'd have them stuck up outside your front door. That's also to explain why there are so many of them.

If every house has one, then that's sort of... In terms of the number of finds and the likelihood of finding such objects, much greater for knock than, say, the comparable terracotta tradition, which is the Djinne terracotta tradition in Mali, or indeed other traditions in Niger and so on. This is, of course, where this new research project in the 2000s

If every house has one, then that's sort of... In terms of the number of finds and the likelihood of finding such objects, much greater for knock than, say, the comparable terracotta tradition, which is the Djinne terracotta tradition in Mali, or indeed other traditions in Niger and so on. This is, of course, where this new research project in the 2000s

If every house has one, then that's sort of... In terms of the number of finds and the likelihood of finding such objects, much greater for knock than, say, the comparable terracotta tradition, which is the Djinne terracotta tradition in Mali, or indeed other traditions in Niger and so on. This is, of course, where this new research project in the 2000s

really move things along because it began excavating knock sites and find spots in quantity and this is where it becomes clear that you have you know these statues are fragmentary you you say you're you find a pit and you're excavating a pit and you start finding terracotta fragments in it And then you get them all out or you do a block lift, as you might do here or anywhere else.

really move things along because it began excavating knock sites and find spots in quantity and this is where it becomes clear that you have you know these statues are fragmentary you you say you're you find a pit and you're excavating a pit and you start finding terracotta fragments in it And then you get them all out or you do a block lift, as you might do here or anywhere else.

really move things along because it began excavating knock sites and find spots in quantity and this is where it becomes clear that you have you know these statues are fragmentary you you say you're you find a pit and you're excavating a pit and you start finding terracotta fragments in it And then you get them all out or you do a block lift, as you might do here or anywhere else.

You do a block lift of all the stuff and then excavate them in the lab. And you find out that you've got no single intact statue. You have not even one that's broken up. You have several that have been broken up, incomplete, and put into a pit. And again and again, not finding intact ones. And why are they going into these special disposal pits?

You do a block lift of all the stuff and then excavate them in the lab. And you find out that you've got no single intact statue. You have not even one that's broken up. You have several that have been broken up, incomplete, and put into a pit. And again and again, not finding intact ones. And why are they going into these special disposal pits?

You do a block lift of all the stuff and then excavate them in the lab. And you find out that you've got no single intact statue. You have not even one that's broken up. You have several that have been broken up, incomplete, and put into a pit. And again and again, not finding intact ones. And why are they going into these special disposal pits?

And then as the project continued, it became apparent that a lot of these pits, and perhaps one ultimately might find all of these pits, are in proximity of cemeteries. Oh, okay. So there's a mortuary tradition going along with this. And then you have to come up with an explanation of... You know, why aren't these going into graves intact? Why are they being broken?

And then as the project continued, it became apparent that a lot of these pits, and perhaps one ultimately might find all of these pits, are in proximity of cemeteries. Oh, okay. So there's a mortuary tradition going along with this. And then you have to come up with an explanation of... You know, why aren't these going into graves intact? Why are they being broken?

And then as the project continued, it became apparent that a lot of these pits, and perhaps one ultimately might find all of these pits, are in proximity of cemeteries. Oh, okay. So there's a mortuary tradition going along with this. And then you have to come up with an explanation of... You know, why aren't these going into graves intact? Why are they being broken?

Why are they being broken in multiple ways and mixed up? You know, is there some place where they're intact? We're not finding them. You know, are they being used as, like Bernard Fagg said, are they being used as finials on houses? And then, you know, when that person dies, you take them down and break them.

Why are they being broken in multiple ways and mixed up? You know, is there some place where they're intact? We're not finding them. You know, are they being used as, like Bernard Fagg said, are they being used as finials on houses? And then, you know, when that person dies, you take them down and break them.

Why are they being broken in multiple ways and mixed up? You know, is there some place where they're intact? We're not finding them. You know, are they being used as, like Bernard Fagg said, are they being used as finials on houses? And then, you know, when that person dies, you take them down and break them.

It does make me think, I mean, there are several traditions like this, but in terms of ones that I'm personally familiar with, you have this process amongst the Sanufu of Mali and then an area south of Mali as well. But where I've seen this is in Mali. where there is the disposal of the things of the dead. And I mean, you can see this elsewhere in the world.