Echoes from an Abandoned Drum: Ethnoarchaeological Insights into Cordyla pinnata and Spiritual Culture in South-eastern Senegal

A fragmentary wooden drum discovered in the abandoned village of Sibi Kili, Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, has been identified as a rare and culturally significant artefact crafted from Cordyla pinnata, an endangered tree species. Through interdisciplinary research—combining ethnobotanical analysis, ethnoarchaeology, qualitative interviews, and wood microscopy—the study reveals the drum's role as a medium of spiritual, social, and political communication in Mandinka communities. The findings underscore the durability and symbolic resonance of this material, while also highlighting its ecological context and the urgent need for preservation. This case exemplifies the value of ephemeral artefacts in African archaeology and advocates for integrative approaches to studying human-environment interactions and intangible heritage.

Beneš, J., Manka, I., Majerovičová, T.,. (2025). Echoes from an Abandoned Drum: Ethnoarchaeological Insights into Cordyla pinnata and Spiritual Culture in South-eastern Senegal. Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology, XVI(2), 175–185. https://doi.org/10.24916/iansa.2025.2.5