Begin the Jigsaw activity with an introductory discussion of the kind of work done by archaeologists and how their discoveries shape our concept of history. Identify that the monuments and artifacts of Egypt, Greece, and Rome are familiar. Far less is known about civilizations other than Egypt on the continent of Africa. Introduce students to Jenne Jeno.
Jenne-jeno became a center for sahel trade. Jenne-jeno is an ancient city located in the inland delta region of the Republic of Mali, West Africa, where the Bani and Niger Rivers meet. The city dates back to at least the 3rd century B.C. The old city is located 1.86 miles from modern Jenne, where merchants still sell many of the same products sold in ancient Jenne-Jeno and where there is a very famous mosque, the “Grand Mosque” of Jenne which is a world heritage site. The cosmopolitan nature of this ancient West African city has been researched by many archeologists.
Divide students into six teams and have each team read one section in “Finding West Africa’s Oldest City” by Susan and Roderick McIntosh in National Geographic and examine the accompanying photographs. The six sections are:
- The Introduction
- “Soil Deposits Pose a Riddle”
- “Pottery Dates Advance New Ideas”
- “City Prospers on Trade”
- “Rains and Excavation Season”
- “Thriving Jenne-jeno Abandoned.”
Each team should prepare a 1-2 page summary of their findings that summarizes for the class what they learned about ancient Africa, Jenne-jeno and/or the work of archaeologists from studying their section of the article.
After each group presents as a whole class discuss:
- What is the significance of the Jenne-jeno?
- Why did Jenne-jeno become such an important city?
- What were the technological achievements of the inhabitants of Jenne-jeno?