Characterizing Ceramic Assemblages from a Multi-period Site in Ilorin, Kwara State

Ilorin occupies a historically significant position at the interface of Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani cultural spheres, and its archaeological record should theoretically reflect this cross-cultural dynamic in material culture. This study characterises ceramic assemblages recovered from a multi-period deposit identified during utility construction in Ilorin, Kwara State, using typological and technological analysis to distinguish occupational phases and cultural affiliations. A total of three hundred and twelve sherds were classified by fabric, forming technique, surface treatment, and decorative motif, with selected pieces subjected to metric analysis and thin-section petrography using a teaching laboratory polarizing microscope. The assemblage spans at least three broad technological traditions, including a plain hand-modelled pottery consistent with pre-Islamic occupation, a group with impressed geometric decoration comparable to published assemblages from Yoruba sites, and a wheel-thrown or slow-turned ware with parallels in northern Nigerian Islamic-period ceramics. Stratigraphic context, though disturbed by modern construction, partially supports the inferred temporal sequence, with the northern tradition wares appearing in the uppermost excavated horizon. The study situates these findings within Ilorin's documented history as a Yoruba emirate incorporating strong Hausa-Fulani political and cultural influence from the early nineteenth century. It recommends dedicated excavation with robust radiocarbon dating to establish a firm chronological sequence for the site. Keywords: ceramics, Ilorin, multi-period site, Kwara State, cultural identity.