The enigma of the Nok, one of the most advanced african civilization
Archaeologists have come across a range of stone tools, cave paintings and iron tools, including extraordinary spearheads, bracelets and small knives. But by far the most intriguing and enigmatic aspect of the Nok culture are their terracotta statues, described by experts as extraordinary, timeless and almost "extraterrestrial".
Nok is the name of a small village in central Nigeria, where in 1928 a group of miners unearthed a series of terracotta finds, evidence of an ancient lost civilization. The numerous archaeological excavations following the discovery have revealed that the Nok may have been the first complex civilization to appear in West Africa, arose at least in 900 BC and disappeared mysteriously around 200 AD.
The findings highlighted an extremely advanced society, with one of the most complex judicial systems of the time, which arose in a period in which other African cultures were entering the Neolithic era.
Archaeologists have come across a range of stone tools, cave paintings and iron tools, including extraordinary spearheads, bracelets and small knives. But by far the most intriguing and enigmatic aspect of the Nok culture is their terracotta statues, described as extraordinary, timeless and almost "extraterrestrial".
Despite the remarkable cultural heritage the Nok left behind, there are still many unanswered questions. First of all, since no written evidence has come down to us, the original name of this civilization remains unknown. Furthermore, the reason for their sudden disappearance and the true purpose of the mysterious life-size terracotta statues remain unknown.
The technological advancement of this civilization is demonstrated precisely by the extraordinary works of art produced by the Nok, artefacts that express a remarkable mastery of the clay production and firing process. The anthropomorphic statues are always characterized by an almost obsessive attention to detail, depicted with complex hairstyles, large elongated heads, almond-shaped eyes and parted lips.
These unusual features are particularly disconcerting when considering the fact that the statues were made life-size and true to the proportions between the head and the rest of the body, leading some to use the term "extraterrestrial in appearance" to describe the works. of art by the Nok.
Microscopic inspection of the clay used in the Nok area shows significant uniformity of composition, suggesting that the material came from a single, as yet undiscovered deposit. Not much is known about the true purpose of the sculptures, but some researchers have speculated that the statues served as amulets to ward off crop failure, disease, and sterility.
Other scholars, however, believe that the figures represent individuals of high status, or 'celestial' divinities celebrated and adored by the people. The creation of life-size statues is not the only indication of the complexity of their civilization. Research has highlighted that the Nok developed a very advanced administrative and judicial system, in order to guarantee social justice and public order.
In a manner very similar to the modern organization of the Western judiciary, the Nok created two types of courts: one intended to judge civil cases, such as family disputes or false accusations, the other created for more serious charges, such as theft, murder and adultery. Furthermore, within a sanctuary closed to the public there was a high court that heard cases that could not be resolved by the courts.
The people believed that every crime attracted a curse capable of destroying the whole family and, therefore, the guilt had to be discovered and punished, in order to avoid the consequences. Before being subjected to the judgment of the court, the suspect was taken between two monoliths facing the sun, where he solemnly swore before Nom, the supreme deity of the Nok, to tell the truth.
The court was presided over by the high priest and the various clan leaders. Anyone found guilty was forced to sacrifice goats and gods to the gods, plus a quantity of local wine from the high priest. Afterwards, a day of celebration was declared in the city, to thank the gods for helping them solve the case and for the danger of the curse having been avoided.
What happened to them?
At a certain point, around 200 AD, the flourishing Nok culture disappeared into the folds of history, causing perplexity and questions among scholars as to the reason for their disappearance. Some researchers have suggested that overexploitation of natural resources, and a heavy reliance on coal, may have played a crucial role in the demise of the Nok.
Compared to this, other hypotheses have been put forward: from climate changes to invasions, from a devastating epidemic to migration to other geographical areas. But the disappearance is not the only enigma to remain unanswered: almost all the terracotta statues are broken or seriously damaged. Is this intentional damage, or the simple effect of the natural erosion process?
Where did the torsos of most of the statues go? The researchers hypothesize that the missing parts could be located underground immediately outside ancient urban centers. The researchers intend to clarify this and other aspects that are still unresolved, trusting that a new excavation campaign could provide new sources to clarify the Nok enigma.
