Igbo-Ukwu, originally known as Igbo-Nkwo, The modern town saw an outbreak of vigilante violence in 2013. They include a small staff, a head of a
ram, a large
manilla, an intricately designed crescent-shaped vessel and a small pendant in the shape of a local chief's head with scarification (ichi) marks on the face. Formal excavations by the archaeologist
Thurstan Shaw in 1959 at the request of the Nigerian government, resulted in the discovery of two other sites,
Igbo Richard and
Igbo Jonah, containing the remains of an ancient culture. Later, these were excavated as well. Artifacts have included
jewelry,
ceramics, a corpse adorned in what appears to be
regalia, and many assorted
bronze,
copper, and
iron objects. Some of these contain materials that are evidence of a long-distance trading system extending to
Egypt.
Radiocarbon dating placed the sites to 850 AD, which would make the Igbo-Ukwu culture the earliest-known example of bronze casting in the region. The archaeological sites in southeastern Nigeria are associated with the
Nri-Igbo. The three sites include
Igbo Isaiah (a
shrine), Igbo Richard (a burial
chamber), and Igbo Jonah (a
cache). Artifacts found in these sites have shown that by the 9th century AD, the Igbo-Ukwu people had established a complex religious system and an economy based on agriculture and trade with other African peoples as far as the Nile valley.
Gallery File:Igbo ukwu face pendant.png|
Igbo ukwu face pendant File:Double egg pendant, leaded bronze, 9th-10th century, unearthed in Igbo Ukwu, Anambra,.png|
Double egg pendant, leaded bronze, 9th-10th century, unearthed in Igbo Ukwu, Anambra File:Shell Vessel with Leopard from Igbo-Ukwu,.png|
Shell Vessel with Leopard from Igbo-Ukwu File:Igbo-ukwu bowl.png|
Igbo-ukwu bowl File:Bronze pot, Igbo-Ukwu, 9th century.JPG|
Bronze pot, Igbo-Ukwu File:Bronze ceremonial vessel in form of a snail shell, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria.JPG|
Bronze ceremonial vessel in form of a snail shell, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu File:Igbo ukwu vass.png|
Igbo ukwu Vass File:Bronze ornamental staff head, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu.JPG|
Bronze ornamental staff head, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu File:Intricate bronze ceremonial pot, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria.jpg|
Intricate bronze ceremonial pot, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria File:Intricate ornamental staff head, 9th century, bronze, Igbo-Ukwu.JPG|
Intricate ornamental staff head, 9th century, bronze, Igbo-Ukwu File:Igbo ukwu bronzes.jpg|
Igbo ukwu bronzes File:Igbo ukwu pendant.jpg|
Igbo ukwu pendant File:Glass beads from Igbo-Ukwu.jpg|
Glass beads from Igbo-Ukwu File:Igbo Isaiah a shrine.png|Igbo-Ukwu textile File:High priest.png|
High priest File:Cresentric bowl, bronze, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria.JPG|
Crescentic bowl, bronze, 9th century, Igbo-Ukwu File:Igbo Ukwu vessel.jpg|
Igbo Ukwu vessel ==Climate==