Figure

The sculpture of a cylindrical human figure with a triangular face is decorated with numerous horizontal, vertical and diagonal incisions, which resemble a characteristic crown at the level of the head. Terracotta items from the ancient city of Djenne-Jeno (also called old Djenne or Djenne, Djenne-Djenno, Jenne-Jeno, or old Jeno) located in the inner Niger Delta in modern Mali, depict mostly richly decorated human figures. They are most often covered with geometric patterns, often linear, which the artist made with a sharp tool or string imprint before firing. The settlement of Djenne-Jeno was founded in the 3rd century BC. It was founded by newcomers from the Sahara familiar with ironworking, cattle breeding, fishing and hunting. Over time, the settlement reached an area of 10 hectares. Its inhabitants lived in round huts made of clay and silt and cultivated African rice. Between 400 and 900 BC, Djenne-Jeno expanded by 23 hectares, and the population increased, as evidenced by numerous graves found by archaeologists from that period. The centre owed its dynamic development to the trade between the Sahara and the lands south of the Niger River. Local products such as dried fish, rice, iron and ceramics were exchanged for stone, copper, salt, glass beads and gold. Djenne-Jeno was one of the first early urban centres. It produced many outstanding specialists in iron and clay working. The city, for unexplained reasons, was abandoned in the 14th century. In 1988, Djenne-Jeno (and the historic centre of neighbouring Djenne, founded in the Middle Ages) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Katarzyna Findlik-Gawron