Survey of Pre-colonial Copper Alloy Smelting Evidence in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State

The Igbo-Ukwu sites in Anambra State, first excavated by Thurstan Shaw between 1959 and 1964, yielded copper alloy objects of extraordinary technical sophistication dated to around the ninth century CE, establishing their significance in global discussions of African metallurgical history. While the excavated collections have been extensively studied, the broader archaeological landscape of copper alloy smelting and production in the Igbo-Ukwu area remains poorly understood. This study surveys the immediate hinterland of the original Igbo-Ukwu excavation sites for material evidence of smelting, casting, and associated workshop activities, using controlled surface collection and non-intrusive geophysical survey with a borrowed magnetometer. Surface collection yielded small quantities of copper slag, crucible fragments, and casting spillage across four locations within a two-kilometre radius of the known sites. Magnetometer transects across one field identified several buried anomalies consistent with hearth or pit features that may represent in-situ smelting features. The study situates these findings within current debates about the organisation of metal production at Igbo-Ukwu, specifically whether it represents centralised palace-controlled craft production or more distributed workshop activity. Community consultation confirmed local awareness of both the sites' international significance and ongoing concerns about inadequate heritage protection. The research recommends a dedicated production landscape survey using expanded geophysical and geoarchaeological methods. Keywords: copper alloy, smelting, Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, metallurgical landscape.