Editing History of Senegal (section)

==Neolithic==

In Senegambia, the period when humans became hunters, fishermen and producers (farmer and artisan) are all well represented and studied. This is when more elaborate objects and [[ceramic]]s<ref>{{in lang|fr}} Mandiomé Thiam, ''La céramique au Sénégal : Archéologie et Histoire'', Université de Paris I, 1991, 464 pages (thèse de doctorat)</ref> emerged. But gray areas remain. Although the characteristics and manifestations of civilization from the [[Neolithic]] have been identified their origins and relationship have not yet fully defined.
What can be distinguished is:
*The dig of Cape Manuel: the Neolithic deposit Manueline Dakar was discovered in 1940.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} « Le gisement du Cap Manuel », conférence de Cyr Descamps, en ligne {{cite web |url=http://paleoassociation.ifrance.com/manu/manu.html |title=Le Gisement du Cap Manuel (Dakar, Sénégal) |access-date=2010-07-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218103840/http://paleoassociation.ifrance.com/manu/manu.html |archive-date=18 February 2010  }}</ref> [[Basalt]] rocks including ankaramite were used for making microlithic tools such as axes or planes. Such tools have been found at [[Gorée]] and the [[Magdalen Islands]], indicating the activity of [[shipbuilding]] by nearby fishermen.
*The dig of [[Hann Bel-Air|Bel-Air]]: Neolithic Bélarien tools, usually made out of [[flint]], are present in the dunes of the west, near the current capital. In addition to axes, [[adze]]s and pottery, there is also a statuette, the [[Venus Thiaroye]]<ref>{{in lang|es}} « Prehistoria de África: Manifestaciones artísticas. Esculturas. Senegal » [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027133214/http://es.geocities.com/contraandrocentrismo/afric.preh.html]</ref>
*The dig of Khant: the Khanty creek, located in the north near [[Kayar]] in the lower valley of the [[Senegal River]], gave its name to a Neolithic industry which mainly uses bone and wood.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} Marie-Amy Mbow, « Le site archéologique du Khant (région de Saint-Louis du Sénégal) : nouveaux éléments », ''[[Présence africaine]]'', 1998, n° 158, pp. 7–22</ref> This deposit is on the list of closed sites and monuments of Senegal.<ref name="Arrêté">{{cite web|url=http://www.culture.gouv.sn/article.php3?id_article=335|title=Arrêté n° 12.09.2007 portant publication de la liste des sites et monuments historiques classés|publisher= Ministre de la Culture et du Patrimoine historique classé|date=12 September 2007|access-date=2 July 2008|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220103534/http://www.culture.gouv.sn/article.php3?id_article=335|archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>
*The dig the [[Falémé River|Falémé]] located in the south-east of Senegal, has uncovered a Neolithic Falemian tools industry that produced polished materials as diverse as [[sandstone]], [[hematite]], [[shale]], [[quartz]], and [[flint]]. Grinding equipment and pottery from the period are well represented at the site.
*The Neolithic civilization of the Senegal River valley and the [[Ferlo]] are the least well known due to not always being separated.