Abstract:
This research work focused on archaeological reconnaissance in Igbo elerin Lagelu North Local Council Development Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The research aims at collecting the tradition of the origin of the inhabitants of selected villages in Igbo elerin, studying and documenting the archaeological and ethnographic sites and features in the area, documenting the local craft or industries in the area to understand the peoples’ subsistence over time and documenting the indigenous knowledge systems of the people with the hope of understanding artefact symbols, values and belief systems that mark the peoples’ identity. The methods adopted for the research include oral tradition, archaeological reconnaissance, mapping and ethnography. Oral tradition as used in this research helped in collection of the tradition of origin of the people. It established that though the people of the villages studied were migrants but has through time claimed autochthon. Oral tradition also helped in clarifying the meaning and function of each find. Archaeological survey which was done by walking around the sites in the selected villages aided the documentation of sites and features in the area. Mapping of the sites helped in showing the spatial distribution of finds and features. Ethnography was used to study the indigenous knowledge and technology of the area. The research revealed finds and features which include; old pottery making site with some walls of the workshops still standing, extinct black soap making industrial site, ash mounds, a sand fortification, abandoned settlement, and refuse dump. It also revealed from ethnographic sources; masquerading, water bodies (stream), talking drum, Newbouldia laevis, village square, and medicinal herbs garden. The work succeeded in achieving its aims and it is expected that it will serve as a reference for further research works.
