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Materializing Performance and Ritual: Decoding the Archaeology of Movement in Tallensi Shrines in Northern Ghana
1Archaeology, School of Arts, Histories, and Cultures, University of Manchester. Tim.Insoll@manchester.ac.uk.
Material Religion : the Journal of Objects, Art and Belief
|February 10, 2012
Summary
Archaeological studies often focus on static objects, but ritual practices may be more dynamic. This research explores active ritual behaviors using performance and movement at Tallensi shrines in Ghana.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Religious Studies
Background:
- Traditional archaeological interpretation of ritual and religion often prioritizes static material residues.
- This focus can lead to an oversimplified, static view of dynamic ritual practices, beliefs, and communities.
- An alternative perspective considers ritual as structured by active, fluid behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore dynamic and fluid ritual behaviors in archaeology.
- To analyze the role of performance, movement, and bodily experience in relation to space and material culture.
- To examine these concepts using the Golib festival and the archaeology of Tallensi shrines in Northern Ghana.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of archaeological material from Tallensi shrines.
- Ethnographic insights into the Golib festival, focusing on performance and movement.
- Interdisciplinary approach combining archaeology, anthropology, and performance studies.
Main Results:
- Archaeological material can be better understood through the lens of dynamic ritual performance rather than static interpretation.
- The study highlights how movement and bodily engagement shape ritual spaces and practices.
- Analysis of Tallensi shrines and the Golib festival reveals the active nature of ritual construction.
Conclusions:
- Shifting focus from static residues to dynamic behaviors offers a richer understanding of past ritual life.
- Performance and embodiment are crucial elements in the archaeological interpretation of ritual and religion.
- The study provides a framework for analyzing dynamic ritual landscapes in other archaeological contexts.
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