The archaeological site of Jenne-jeno, situated beside the historic town of Djenne, was brought to the attention of the world by the 1977 and 1981 excavations of Roderick and Susan McIntosh. Their continuing excavations at this mudbrick settlement mound have exposed a sequence of occupation extending from 250 B.C. to 1400 A.D. From this town's foundation, its inhabitants fished, cultivated rice and sorghum and kept livestock. Trade with adjoining regions brought in commodities such as sandstone, copper, iron, and gold. By 450 A.D., local craft specialization, the construction of a monumental city wall, and the growth of a regional site hierarchy centered on Jenne-jeno point to an urban status for the site. As such, it is one of the earliest cities of Sub-Saharan Africa and has been classed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. However, it should be stressed that Jenne-jeno is only one of more than a dozen sites of similar size, and potentially greater antiquity, which remain to be investigated in Mali's Middle Niger region.
The archaeological site of Jenne-jeno, situated beside the historic town of Djenne, was brought to the attention of the world by the 1977 and 1981 excavations of Roderick and Susan McIntosh. Their continuing excavations at this mudbrick settlement mound have exposed a sequence of occupation extending from 250 B.C. to 1400 A.D. From this town's foundation, its inhabitants fished, cultivated rice and sorghum and kept livestock. Trade with adjoining regions brought in commodities such as sandstone, copper, iron, and gold. By 450 A.D., local craft specialization, the construction of a monumental city wall, and the growth of a regional site hierarchy centered on Jenne-jeno point to an urban status for the site. As such, it is one of the earliest cities of Sub-Saharan Africa and has been classed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. However, it should be stressed that Jenne-jeno is only one of more than a dozen sites of similar size, and potentially greater antiquity, which remain to be investigated in Mali's Middle Niger region.