A Window to the Western Indian Ocean World: Archaeology of the Medieval Maldives

Transcription

1 A Window to the Western Indian Ocean World: Archaeology of the Medieval Maldives

2 Cowrie shells: An early global commodity The money cowrie in the medieval world The famous money cowrie, Cypraea moneta, has served as a currency and has been used in ritual objects and ornaments across the world for millennia. Burning questions Despite the importance of these cowries, they remained largely misidentified and misunderstood in West African archaeological contexts. Widely used across the medieval world, the shells of these marine molluscs were considered of particular importance by communities in West Africa and the Maldives, and are a key indicator of long-distance trade at West African archaeological sites. At the other end of the exchange, until our work very little was known about the Islamic period archaeology of the Maldives. Introducing the cowrie project We obtained funding from the Leverhulme Trust (RPG to Anne Haour), and set out to: Re-assess cowries in West African museum and archaeological collections, thanks to colleagues who helped by sending us their shells. This will enable us to: clarify their identification and provenance; examine their distribution, use and value regionally and chronologically. Conduct archaeological surveys in the Live money cowries on a Maldivian reef Maldives to: The Maldives were connected to the Indian Ocean s thriving trade networks. The 14th century Moroccan traveller ibn Battuta saw cowries being used in both the Maldives and West Africa, noting that they were being sold in Mali and Djoudjou at a rate of 1,150 shells for one gold dinar. record the Islamic archaeology at risk from development and climatic change; determine the Maldives role in the medieval Indian Ocean world through material culture analysis.

3 Kinolhas: An island of many mosques On the path of ibn Battuta Archaeological surveys When I arrived at these islands, I disembarked at the one called Kannalus, a fine island containing many mosques ibn Battuta Stepping off the boat in Kinolhas, Raa atoll, 700 years ago, it is easy to see why ibn Battuta was so taken with the island. The goal for our archaeological reconnaissance Our first challenge was deciding where to excavate within the area. To determine this, we dug small test pits at 20m intervals, and mapped the density of materials recovered. here was to uncover what life was like for the islanders when he landed. Excavating the medieval settlement In light of the data z from our surveys and test pitting, we opened five large trenches. On the approach to Kinolhas These provided an insight into past We first visited in 2016, and through communities burial surveys realised the archaeological potential of the island. On our return in 2017, we elected to excavate the area on practices, subsistence and economies. Drone image of excavation locations the northwest of the island, still untouched by modern development and farming, which was close to where we were told the medieval harbour once stood. Our excavations also highlighted the international trade networks which had existed, clearly demonstrated by the various origins of the imported pottery we recovered.

4 A surprising discovery Finding a cowrie cache Micro-beads While excavating in our Trench 449, we encountered a cache of 99 cowries. These surrounded a small pot. Microscopic analysis of the pot fill revealed six minuscule beads: two black and four red. Carefully emptying the pot, we found a small yellow metal bead. The electrum bead Scientists from University College London analysed the bead. This showed it was composed of an intentional mix of gold, silver and a little copper. When the bead was viewed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) we saw it was made by joining several pieces of metal. The hole at one end was decorated with a collar made of two wires: one twisted, one plain. Interpreting the remains SEM image. Marcos Martinón-Torres, UCL. The context of these finds is intriguing. The layout of the deposit suggests the pot was deliberately surrounded by the shells, and the electrum pendant and micro-beads intentionally placed into it before it was buried.

5 Cowries in the Maldivian maritime landscape Complementing our archaeological work, we also wanted to know how people lived recently. Thus, we interviewed cowrie collectors and maritime practitioners (particularly fishers, coir makers and boat builders) to understand how these activities were conducted and how they were inter-related to form a maritime landscape. Cowrie collecting: Ethnographic accounts Nowadays, cowries are usually collected by women (and occasionally men) during the lowest six tides of the month. Found sheltering under coral and rocks, the live cowries are picked up or removed using a point. People told us that the women can collect 3-5 kg in a single collection (approximately shells). All agreed collecting was fun. Cowrie processing The live cowries are buried for 2-3 weeks, allowing the flesh of the animal they contain to putrefy and drain into the surrounding sand. Afterwards, the shells are washed in the sea. Everyone we spoke to said this was a time intensive, smelly task; but that it was necessary as uncleaned shells were worth less. Use of cowries in the Maldives The cowries were used primarily as currency, traded at either the local island shop or sold to the vora merchants in the capital, Male, for staple foods like rice and sugar and for a range of imported Cowrie collecting: Historical accounts Historical sources suggest that cowries could also be collected from coconut rafts. This technique is remembered but is no longer used. commodities, from areca nuts to textiles. Our ethnographic work also showed the shells were used by men, women and children in gaming, most frequently during Ramadan. The cowries were used as dice for Cowrie traps The coconut fronds are weighed down with large stones in shallow water. The cowries are attracted by the algae that form as the leaves decay, and which they like to eat. Our experiments to Faschi/goti (also known as pachisi); as pieces in Ovalhugon di (the Maldivian equivalent of Bao or pallankuzi), Thin hama, and in points-based games like Boligan du replicate this collection method were only partly successful. and Kote Khuli/Koththukulhuu, the latter played by women only. Ovalhugon di board

6 The Kinolhas Field Team This leaflet arises from an exhibition held at the University of East Anglia, May 2018, to celebrate the findings of the research project Cowrie shells: an early global commodity. The project was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and headed by Professor Anne Haour, University of East Anglia, with Professor Alastair Grant, University of East Anglia, as Co-Investigator. Partners in the Maldives included The Academy of the Dhivehi Language, the Department of Heritage and local island councils. The project postdoctoral researcher was Dr Annalisa Christie, who curated the exhibition. The project PhD student was Ms Shiura Jaufar, on secondment from the Department of Heritage in Male.