Mandara mountains tabouka

katana · 15th December 2007, 03:54 PM

Reading some more about the Mandara Hills I have found that many tribes relocated there due to the iron ore deposits. Either as smelters or smiths, almost a 'Solingen of Africa', although weapons were not their 'exclusive' wares.

Because of the numbers of differing tribes that inhabited the Mandara Hills, that smelted the iron and 'worked' the metal. Fortifications were built as the population increased. The smelting technology used was more advanced than many other areas of Africa. I get the impression that the smelted iron was of good quality and 'in demand' from neighbouring tribes whom would either trade for it ......or 'raid' for it. Also, as mentioned before, Mandara was often 'plundered' for slaves.

A 'slideshow' of some excavated fortifications, use the 'top' arrow to see the next pic.....and so on.

http://www.mandaras.info/StrongholdsNCameroon/fv1.htm

Regards David

As a footnote ... AFAIK weapon forms in Africa have been said to have 'spread' via trade routes and conflict. It is quite likely that in an area such as Mandara the 'intermingling' of tribal smiths also created an 'intermingling' of ideas and weapon forms, as well.

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 04:34 PM

David what marvelous research thank you.
I can see how even in the latter part of the 19th century a region with centres like this would have smiths with gas equipment. Somehow one thinks of these things stuck in aspic, but why should they not want to keep up with technology in there way. It is amazing thinking of a trade caravan laden with gas bottles, why not!

Robert · 15th December 2007, 04:51 PM

They would have most likely carried carbide instead of gas bottles. The early acetylene tanks worked like a miners lamp. They would drip water on carbide pellets to produce the acetylene gas needed for welding.

Robert

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 04:59 PM

According to this low pressure torches were available from 1900. That would fit with my idea of the age of the sword. It could be older? we all have at least one 19th century piece that looks unused. I like the resourcefulness of Roberts suggestion very African.

http://www.datakey.org/gawdajournal/3q05/equipment.php3

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 05:09 PM

I have said this before but I quote Pliny again "there is always something new comming out of Africa"

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2007, 02:39 PM

This information suggests that traditional smelting came to an end around the turn of the 19th early 20th century, particularly in the last section. I would expect new tools also became available. Fascinating, wish I could get of hold of these videos. I think I have been a lucky chap.
http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~ndavid...age/video.html

I have sent an email to ask about getting copies and maybe in DVD form.

Jeff Pringle · 16th December 2007, 02:51 PM

Here is a link to a film from 1937 on the traditional iron smelting of the Ovambo in Angola, goes through the entire many-days long process:
http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Er...elt_index.html
One of the few examples of the pre-trade steel process out there.

15th December 2007, 03:54 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Reading some more about the Mandara Hills I have found that many tribes relocated there due to the iron ore deposits. Either as smelters or smiths, almost a 'Solingen of Africa', although weapons were not their 'exclusive' wares. Because of the numbers of differing tribes that inhabited the Mandara Hills, that smelted the iron and 'worked' the metal. Fortifications were built as the population increased. The smelting technology used was more advanced than many other areas of Africa. I get the impression that the smelted iron was of good quality and 'in demand' from neighbouring tribes whom would either trade for it ......or 'raid' for it. Also, as mentioned before, Mandara was often 'plundered' for slaves. A 'slideshow' of some excavated fortifications, use the 'top' arrow to see the next pic.....and so on. http://www.mandaras.info/StrongholdsNCameroon/fv1.htm Regards David As a footnote ... AFAIK weapon forms in Africa have been said to have 'spread' via trade routes and conflict. It is quite likely that in an area such as Mandara the 'intermingling' of tribal smiths also created an 'intermingling' of ideas and weapon forms, as well. Last edited by katana; 15th December 2007 at 04:06 PM.

16th December 2007, 02:39 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	This information suggests that traditional smelting came to an end around the turn of the 19th early 20th century, particularly in the last section. I would expect new tools also became available. Fascinating, wish I could get of hold of these videos. I think I have been a lucky chap. http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~ndavid...age/video.html I have sent an email to ask about getting copies and maybe in DVD form. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th December 2007 at 02:52 PM.

15th December 2007, 04:34 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	David what marvelous research thank you. I can see how even in the latter part of the 19th century a region with centres like this would have smiths with gas equipment. Somehow one thinks of these things stuck in aspic, but why should they not want to keep up with technology in there way. It is amazing thinking of a trade caravan laden with gas bottles, why not!

15th December 2007, 04:51 PM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	They would have most likely carried carbide instead of gas bottles. The early acetylene tanks worked like a miners lamp. They would drip water on carbide pellets to produce the acetylene gas needed for welding. Robert

15th December 2007, 04:59 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	According to this low pressure torches were available from 1900. That would fit with my idea of the age of the sword. It could be older? we all have at least one 19th century piece that looks unused. I like the resourcefulness of Roberts suggestion very African. http://www.datakey.org/gawdajournal/3q05/equipment.php3

15th December 2007, 05:09 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	I have said this before but I quote Pliny again "there is always something new comming out of Africa"

16th December 2007, 02:51 PM	#7
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Here is a link to a film from 1937 on the traditional iron smelting of the Ovambo in Angola, goes through the entire many-days long process: http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Er...elt_index.html One of the few examples of the pre-trade steel process out there.