Cross River Monoliths: Nigeria's Stonehenge

Research reports from our surveys of the monolith sites in the Upper Cross River, January-March 2015. By Dr. Ivor Miller and Dr. Abu Edet, Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Alok Open Air Museum (National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria).

 I. Miller photo

Community children around the painted carved monolith that represents the Cross River State Tourism Bureau. Their bodies are painted and clothed for the procession through the monolith circle to "feed" the stones traditionally, with pounded yam mixed with palm oil, and libations of fresh palm wine, while dancing and singing to the accompaniment of an iron gong. Alok, Ikom L.G.A., Cross River State. I. Miller photograph, 2014.


Cross River Monoliths: in critical danger of total destruction (pdf)

Cross River Monoliths: community efforts to salvage their heritage (pdf)

Cross River Monoliths: destruction, theft and international sales (pdf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If We Lose Our Monolith Heritage, We Lose Our Identity

The Guardian, a national newspaper in Nigeria, published an article about Dr. Miller's research on Monolith Heritage in Africa (June 28, 2015). (Pdf version)

Etara Mgbè Burial: age-old legacies attacked by churches

Text and photographs (2015) by Dr. Ivor Miller and Dr. Abu Edet, Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Etara is an Éjághám-speaking community in Etung L.G.A., Cross River State
(Pdf version)