Pearl millet and iron in the West African Sahel: Archaeobotanical investigation at Tongo Maaré Diabal, Mali

• Inhabitants at the site of TMD (c. 500–1150) relied almost exclusively on pearl millet as a staple crop, though other cultigens were well established in region. Exclusive cultivation may be part pattern regional subsistence specialisation with roots Late Stone Age. Recent archaeobotanical analysis revealed that botanical remains from Tongo Maaré Diabal (Mali) are composed primarily (up to 85%). Contemporaneous West African sites (500–1200 Cal AD) usually display more diverse patterns, especially by end this period. Indeed, contemporary urban Sahel often comprise combined and diversified farming systems ( Pennisetum glaucum ), rice Oryza glaberrima sorghum Sorghum bicolor) , Echinochloa sp. fonio Digitatia exilis ). This article seeks explain near-exclusive focus Diabal’s agricultural economy millet, particularly regard site’s status settlement iron workers.