Authors : Noaga Birba; Badimbié Yogo; Boureima Yo

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/bderjdwn

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/52y3r2ac

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jun769

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Understanding the relationship between ancient technological systems and their environmental context is a key issue in geoarchaeology and landscape archaeology. In West Africa, ancient iron metallurgy significantly shaped regional landscapes through the exploitation of iron ore deposits and the establishment of smelting workshops, whose remains still structure contemporary territories. However, the environmental factors influencing the spatial organization of these metallurgical activities remain insufficiently documented in several regions of Burkina Faso. This study investigates the influence of hydrographic networks on the spatial distribution of ancient metallurgical sites in the rural commune of Nébiélianayou, located in the Sissili Province in southern Burkina Faso. The dataset derives from geoarchaeological surveys that identified 8 ancient iron ore mining sites and 55 smelting workshops. Spatial analysis was conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS), applying a proximity-based approach through the creation of buffer zones around river systems to assess the distribution of metallurgical sites relative to watercourses. The results reveal a strong concentration of smelting workshops near rivers, with more than 83% of the sites located within 500 m of watercourses. In contrast, mining sites exhibit a more dispersed distribution largely controlled by the geological availability of iron ore deposits. These findings highlight a spatial differentiation within the metallurgical chaîne opératoire, where extraction activities are constrained by ore availability, whereas smelting activities are preferentially located in valley environments providing favorable resources such as water and woody biomass required for charcoal production. Overall, this study emphasizes the structuring role of valley environments in shaping ancient iron production landscapes and demonstrates the relevance of spatial analytical approaches for understanding the interactions between technological systems and environmental resources in West African archaeological contexts.

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