Iwo Eleru Cave
Iwo Eleru · Iwo Eleru Rock Shelter
Middle Stone Age to Iron Age (92,000 BP–500 CE)·MSA/LSA forest foragers·🇳🇬 Ondo State, Nigeria
Harvati K, Stringer C, Grün R, Aubert M, Allsworth-Jones P, et al. · CC BY 4.0
About
About Iwo Eleru Cave
Iwo Eleru Rock Shelter in southwest Nigeria forest is Later Stone Age to Iron Age shelter 92,000–3,000 BP with 13ka calvaria of early modern human with archaic features (Iwo Eleru skull) sparking persistence debate. Later Stone Age microliths, forest hunting and Iron Age burial. Stratified sequence anchors West African forest refugium model.
Why it mattersIwo Eleru skull and 92ka sequence anchors West African forest modern human debate.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Skull archaic persistence vs hybridization
- 02Forest refuge vs savanna corridor
Theories
- 01Archaic introgression in West Africa 13ka (Harvati)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural shelter occupied from MIS 5
- Period
- Middle Stone Age to Iron Age (92,000 BP–500 CE)
- Culture
- MSA/LSA forest foragers
- Builders
- Early modern humans (LSA)
- Purpose
- Forest rock shelter for hunting–gathering and burial
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
92,000 BCE
MSA occupation begins
13,000 BP
Iwo Eleru burial with skull
1000 CE
Iron Age use
1964
Shaw excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
7.3420° N · 5.2150° E · 250 m · 2 mapped features
Burial Layer 13ka Skull
burialLSA burial with calvaria 13ka
7.3430° N · 5.2160° EMicrolithic Horizon
horizonLater Stone Age microliths 15–10 ka
7.3410° N · 5.2140° E
Gallery