Saharan trade has been much debated in modern times, but the main focus of interest remains the medieval and early modern periods, for which more abundant written sources survive. The pre-Islamic origins of Trans-Saharan trade have been hotly contested over the years, mainly due to a lack of evidence. Many of the key commodities of trade are largely invisible archaeologically, being either of high value like gold and ivory, or organic like slaves and textiles or consumable commodities like salt. However, new research on the Libyan people known as the Garamantes and on their trading partners in the Sudan and Mediterranean Africa requires us to revise our views substantially. In this volume experts re-assess the evidence for a range of goods, including beads, textiles, metalwork and glass, and use it to paint a much more dynamic picture, demonstrating that the pre-Islamic Sahara was a more connected region than previously thought.

Demonstrates that the pre-Islamic Sahara was a more connected region than previously thought, with trade an essential linking element.

This ground-breaking volume pushes back conventional dating of the earliest sedentarisation, urbanisation and state formation in the Sahara.

"This volume is the fourth and final volume resulting from a focused programme of research and intensive group discussion of a wide range of topics related to the archaeological (and to a lesser extent, historical and anthropological/ethnographic) analysis of ancient societies in and around the Sahara, from the first millennium BC to the mid-second millennium AD. While the focus of the present volume is technology, there will inevitably be discussion of cross-overs and contrasts with the main conclusions from earlier volumes in the series. As explained in the Preface above, the Trans-SAHARA project evolved out of a long-term programme of fieldwork on an ancient people of the Libyan Sahara. Just as they occupied a significant nodal location in the Sahara, the Garamantes are at the centre of this volume, but the scope of debate here extends way beyond the history of a single group. Connections and barriers within the Trans-Saharan region (and the interrelationship between these two aspects) form one focus. In this introduction we present an overview of crucial themes and considerations which cross-cut all or many of the contributions."--

Places burial traditions at the centre of Saharan migrations and identity debate, with new technical data and methodological analysis.

This study examines the history and organization of trans-Saharan trade in western Africa using original source material.

This open access book provides a multi-perspective approach to the caravan trade in the Sahara during the 19th century. Based on travelogues from European travelers, recently found Arab sources, historical maps and results from several expeditions, the book gives an overview of the historical periods of the caravan trade as well as detailed information about the infrastructure which was necessary to establish those trade networks. Included are a variety of unique historical and recent maps as well as remote sensing images of the important trade routes and the corresponding historic oases. To give a deeper understanding of how those trading networks work, aspects such as culturally influenced concepts of spatial orientation are discussed. The book aims to be a useful reference for the caravan trade in the Sahara, that can be recommended both to students and to specialists and researchers in the field of Geography, History and African Studies.