Excavations at Tin Tin Kanza (TTK), Northern Bénin

Abstract

Excavations on a large settlement mound nearby the small village of Tin Tin, Republic of Bénin, close to the Niger River, were carried out over two weeks in January-February 2013. Preliminary results are reported here from a 2x1m test pit, ‘Trench II’, located on the lower half of the mound. This excavation was extremely revealing in terms both of structures and artefacts: it included several floor surfaces, wall stumps, and stratigraphy, as well as fragmented ceramics and iron artefacts. The purpose of this paper is to place Tin Tin Kanza in the published record given the threat posed to it by development activities in the area with the hope that work will take place in the near future at this important site.