Archeologist stages exhibition, re-visits Igbo-Ukwu Archaeological sites 60 years after first excavation

Dr. Chinedu Kingsley Daraojimba, a Lecturer at the Department of Archaeology and Tourism, University of Nigeria Nsukka who is also a post-doctoral fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, (Uk), on Thursday, June 8, embarked on a two-day exhibition programme and workshop at Igbo-ukwu, Anambra State, tagged : "Archeology and the Public at Igbo-Ukwu Eastern Nigeria"

This exhibition held at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) Igbo-Ukwu Ezinifite in Anambra State, was held from June 8 to June 9.

It had in attendance students and teachers from various government schools in Igbo-Ukwu, as well as some members of the Igbo-Ukwu community.

Recall that the Igbo-Ukwu Archeological site is the oldest known bronze site in west Africa.

In 2019, Dr Daraojimba led the first team to begin escavation at the Igbo-Ukwu Archeological site, 60 years after the first excavation by Professor Thurstan Shaw the Pioneer Archeologist who first investigated the Igbo-Ukwu site.

Dr Daraojimba's choice of revisiting the site six decades after the first excavations by Professor Shaw, was motivated by the need to develop an inclusive "community- researcher" collaborative relationship, which is necessary to address issues of mistrust and limited public archaeological awareness.

It is also intended to engender trust, public interpretation strategies and vital conservation measures for this globally important complex sites of Igbo-Ukwu.

Besides, it is also geared at excavating materials and generating support to serve as a longer-term archaeological and heritage programme.

Ultimately, the exhibition as a foundational work, aims at drawing public attention to the renowned Igboukwu sites.

The students in attendance were drawn from schools like: Christ the King secondary school, Future Hope secondary school, Girls secondary school, Community boys secondary school and Holy Family.

Both students, teachers, non academy staffs and members of the community who were present at the exhibition, had the opportunity to learn and understand more about their local history and heritage of their community Igbo-Ukwu.

The exhibition was supported by the University of Cambridge Public Engagement Starter Grant, The British Academy, the NCMM as well as Dr Pamela Smith Shaw, the wife of the late Professor Shaw who engineered the revisit to the site and supplied the photos of her late husband.

The exhibition also garnered the support of Triplenet Media owned by an Alumni of the London College of Journalism Mr Aloysius Emeka who is also a retired Director of the News Agency of Nigeria NAN.