Prehistoric population of Ngounié Province : the black lake site (Gabon)

Abstract

The prehistory that has developed in other countries for centuries is still new in Africa. This discipline (archeology) is increasingly present on the African continent. For several decades, research carried out there has brought to light several fossils and remains testifying to a past on this continent. In East Africa, for instance, where there has been several archaeological discoveries, the equatorial region has long remained on the fringes of this discipline. Very recent archaeological research in Gabon has long been limited to surface collections and the typological study of these remains. At the black lake of Ndendé, a presence had already been confirmed. Our research does not aim to confirm an archaeological presence around this lake but rather to apply new study methods on the lithic material collected on the surface and in stratigraphy. Our research is a new approach to study the lithic material of the Black Lake in order to provide a better understanding of the technology used but also of the use of these remains in everyday life. Thus, these remains can be traced back to a fairly recent period in the Gabonese Stone Age: the Late Stone Age.