They could have been used as
ornaments or in special ceremonies such as the initiation ceremony
. Archaeologists believe that the Lydenburg Heads were probably used in initiation ceremonies. Some of the heads are shaped like animals.
What was the Lydenburg Heads used for?
The current speculation surrounding the Lydenburg Heads is that they may have been created to
serve ritualistic and or ceremonial purposes including initiation rights
. The two larger specimens could have been worn by a small individual such as young man.
Why were they called Lydenburg Heads?
The Lydenburg heads
Archaeologists found broken pieces of clay pots near the town of Lydenburg in Mpumalanga Province in the early 1960’s
. The Archaeologists carefully put the pieces together, and when they were put back together, they formed human heads so they were than known as Lydenburg heads.
When was the Lydenburg Heads made?
Between 1962 and 1964
, a young boy discovered strange pieces of pottery eroding out of a gully in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Although the fragments were not formally excavated, most pieces were found and reconstructed to make up seven clay heads – collectively known as the Lydenburg Heads.
Who found the Lydenburg Heads?
This is a resin copy of one of seven terracotta heads found near Lydenburg by a young schoolboy,
K.L. von Bezing
, who gave them to the Archaeology Department when he came to UCT as a student in the 1960s. It is dated c. AD 500-700 and represents the earliest sculpture found in southern Africa.
What were NOK heads used for?
Little is known of the original function of the pieces, but theories include ancestor portrayal, grave markers, and
charms to prevent crop failure, infertility, and illness
. Also, based on the dome-shaped bases found on several figures, they could have been used as finials for the roofs of ancient structures.
What is terracotta used for?
Terracotta is the term normally used for
sculpture made in earthenware
, and also for various practical uses including vessels (notably flower pots), water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles, bricks, and surface embellishment in building construction.
What is the most important symbol of Nok culture?
The most characteristic Nok artifacts are
clay figurines of animals and stylized human beings
, usually heads; perforated eyes of an elliptical or triangular shape are typical of the style. Other artifacts of the Nok culture include iron tools, stone axes and other stone tools, and stone ornaments.
What does Nok culture mean?
Famous for the distinctive terracotta sculptures of human heads and figures
, Nok was the first known culture in West Africa to produce such art and perhaps the first sub-Saharan culture to perfect iron-smelting technology.
Why are the heads of African sculptures so big?
The
head is disproportionately large for the body
, reflecting the Yoruba belief that the head is the seat of an individual’s essential energy and being. His face and torso are patterned with parallel scarification ridges that perhaps identify his place of origin and status.
What is the difference between terracotta and clay pots?
The difference between clay and terra-cotta is
that clay is the raw material
, while terra-cotta is clay that is already modeled and fired. Typically, terra-cotta objects may be made of any types of organic clay, but earthenware clay has the brown-orange color that is also known as terra-cotta.
Is ceramic the same as terracotta?
Ceramic Fanatics
At a glance, you may think a ceramic pot is simply a
terracotta
pot with a good paint job. However, ceramic pots are typically glazed with a coat of lacquer that prevents the soil from drying out at the same speed as it would in an unglazed clay or terracotta planter.
What is terra cotta why we are using terra cotta today?
Its superior durability, vibrant colours, and easy to mould nature make it a popular choice for sculptors and architects. However, the main reason for the popularity of terracotta is the fact that it is
a form of clay that
is easily found in most continents. In most cases, this clay is also rich in iron.
What is the importance of the Nok culture?
The Nok are significant for being
one of very few civilizations in the world
that transitioned from stone tools straight to iron tools without first learning how to make copper or bronze tools. The legacy of the Nok people is difficult to determine due to the mystery around their identity and origins.
What is the meaning of Nok?
“
No One Knows
” is the most common definition for NOK on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. NOK. Definition: No One Knows.
How did iron technology hurt the Nok civilization?
This helped the Nok because they were an agricultural people who needed things like plowed fields, wood to construct and then heat their houses, and so forth. It also helped the Nok because making iron and making their ceramic pottery have
some similarities
. Both require great heat to mold or harden the material.
