Burials of "earth priests" in Ethnoarcheological Research

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the latest results of the ethno-archaeological research which was carried out in central Yatenga (Burkina Faso) in a small community called Nyonyosi. The examined group, according to oral traditions and historical sources, could be perceived as direct descendants of the societies which inhabited the upper Nakambé valley before Mossi migration in the 14th and 15th century CE. Nowadays, due to a high degree of acculturation, Nyonyosi have lost their cultural distinctiveness and have adopted the lifestyle and language of the newcomers. However, despite the passing of the centuries, some autochthonic elements have survived in the institution of the “earth priests” – tengsoba, which is reflected in the material culture. These include local ceramic art, objects linked to the worship and burials of tengsoba. The article is an attempt to present the phenomenon of modern tengsoba burials as a connection between the present living culture and the archaeological culture. Main components of those burials, such as stone stela and clay coffins, are derived from forms found in Kurumba chiefdoms. In my search for analogies between the regions, I also use oral tradition, which has preserved information about migration from Lurum.