A Study of Kanem-Borno’s Imperial Pottery (9th – 19th century)

This study is a comprehensive archaeological analysis of pottery from the Kanem-Borno Empire, with a particular focus on the previously understudied region of Kanem. It aims to address major gaps in existing research by establishing the first pottery sequence for Kanem, reassessing previously studied material from Borno using more advanced analytical methods, and analysing pottery from different regions and periods across the Lake Chad Basin. The main goal is to use pottery to investigate the chronological development, regional connections, and cultural interactions between Kanem and Borno. Through statistical methods such as correspondence and network analysis, the study examines how pottery changed over time and space, whether these changes followed a linear trajectory, and what they can reveal about contacts, interactions, and the broader historical development of the Kanem-Borno Empire.