Investigation of Neolithic Occupation Evidence in the Lake Chad Basin, Borno State

The Lake Chad Basin represents one of the most archaeologically significant environments in sub-Saharan Africa, with evidence of human occupation extending across multiple climatic phases of the Holocene. This study investigates surface evidence for Neolithic occupation in a selected portion of the basin within Borno State, focusing on lithic assemblages, ground stone tools, and ceramic sherds recovered through controlled surface collection. The research was designed to contribute basic documentation to an area where insecurity has significantly reduced archaeological fieldwork over the past decade. Despite logistical constraints, field teams operating within secure perimeters recorded material from twelve surface scatters across an area of approximately forty square kilometres, revealing a diverse lithic technology including bifacial points, scrapers, and microlithic elements alongside plain and impressed pottery characteristic of late Holocene occupations across the Chad Basin. Faunal material was limited to fragmentary bone, with identification confined to broad categories of large and medium mammal. The study situates its findings within recent palaeoenvironmental and archaeological synthesis for the broader Chad Basin, referencing publications from Cameroon, Niger, and Chad that describe comparable Neolithic material traditions. The research underscores the importance of maintaining archaeological engagement with the northeastern zone despite ongoing security challenges, and recommends that future work prioritize collaboration with Borno State University. Keywords: Neolithic, Lake Chad Basin, lithic technology, Borno State, Holocene occupation.