Tomas Evans, a PhD candidate at William & Mary has just concluded his field season at Eredo Village, Epe. His team excavated archaeological features adjacent to the massive Sungbo’s Eredo earthwork. Excavation of refuse mounds there revealed multiple generations of accumulated refuse, forming communal monuments in the landscape. Within these, they excavated hundreds of ceramics, cowrie and snail shells, glass bottle fragments, metal scraps, slag, imported wares, bone, carapace, burnt architectural clay, charred palm kernel, charcoal, and some colonial and post-colonial era coins, probably dating from the last 200-300 years.. According to Tomas, “One of these refuse mounds was on top of an earlier domestic feature in which we uncovered tiny in situ ceramic pots, apparently placed around a pile of burnt clay, rock, and ceramic. This may be much earlier in date and suggests a deep continuity in the occupation of this site – a village that, from at least more recent times, was a toll gate and trading post of the Ijebu polity, connected to Sungbo’s Eredo.”

The team also observed that several contemporary shrines are connected with the earthwork, demonstrating its continued, evolving significance to populations living in its vicinity. They were honoured to present the research at the palace of the Alara of Ilara – attendees from local schools and other sections of the community masked up and attended the occasion to see some of their discoveries which were well received.

Tomas will like to appreciate the Alara for his generous support. He is grateful to Augustine University, and the Ife-Sungbo Archaeological Project Directed and Co-Directed by Dr Chouin and Dr Ogunfolakan respectively. His PhD research has also been funded by the Royal Anthropological Institute (London), DC Explorer’s Club, and the College of William & Mary. Special thanks goes to Mr Joseph Ayodokun for his continued logistic supports, and to his hardworking team members, Emmanuel, Stanley, and Timothy, for their commitment to the work. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.