The first objects of this culture were found after 1975. It was through sand drifts that they came to the surface in the North West of Niamey, the capital of Niger. Later, more sites were discovered, which stretched over the Niger river and the borders of neighbouring Burkina Faso, into the entire region of the old Songhai Empire (founded in around 846 A.D.). This culture was named ‘Bura-Asinda-Sikka’ after important sites. The expert excavations began after 1978. Many such tall and hollow receptacles were unearthed from large grave sites – real necropolises. They were buried with their openings facing downwards. With regard to their purpose – it is only known that the deceased were given their grave goods in these hollow vessels to take with them on their ‘journey to the afterlife’.
The outer appearance of these clay receptacles, that many also call ‘phallic clay urns’, is always very similar. Most of them show a pattern of tight lines in relief made up of small ridges. Some also have stylised faces created from lumps of clay.
The bigger of the two Bura vessels offered in this lot has an intentional, definite, hole that is as thick as a finger in the centre (the navel?). On the inside Bura terracottas of this type are always smooth. The smaller of the two ‘Bura bells’ presented here shows an addition to its lower end made from original, old material. On the larger one the lower edge is slightly cracked in one place. Otherwise no damage. Height: 82 cm (the larger Bura terracotta), 40 cm (the smaller one); diameter: c. 28 cm and c. 13 cm respectively (lower openings). Between the 3rd and 10th/11th centuries A.D. (ME)

Provenance:
Austria private collection.

Lit.:
‘Erde und Erz’ by K.-F. Schädler, fig. 87, 88.