In press: Ancient DNA interpretation of precolonial terracottas from Koma Land, Ghana

The pre-colonial 9th-14th century terracotta forms of Koma Land, Northern Ghana, contain cavities which may have been intended to hold liquids. These have been linked to traditional African libation, but the specific nature of their contents is unclear. In this first ancient DNA study of Sub-saharan pottery residues, we report chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences homologous to the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer region and rbcL gene of Musa spp. (banana/plantain); and the trnL-trnF region of a Pinus (pine)-like novel tree genus absent from current DNA databases. We propose that fruit alcohols and tree bark infusions played a selective role in libation ceremonies in which the substances offered varied by context. Coniochaeta spp. sequences also contextualise the ritual deactivation of selected figurines through fire, suggesting these libation rituals culminated in the symbolic deconsecration of powerfully perceived items.