Community Perceptions of Archaeological Heritage in Ile-Ife, Osun State

Community perceptions of archaeological heritage shape the social environment within which conservation, tourism development, and research activities must operate, yet these perceptions are rarely documented systematically in Nigerian archaeological literature. This study investigates how residents of Ile-Ife perceive the archaeological heritage of the town, including the famous Ife bronzes, glass bead production sites, and the earthwork system, using a structured questionnaire administered to a stratified sample of three hundred and twenty households across six wards. The instrument measured heritage knowledge, perceived ownership, attitudes toward research and tourism, and awareness of heritage legislation. Findings indicate that awareness of the bronzes is near-universal, driven largely by school curricula and media coverage, while knowledge of less-publicized sites such as the Ife glass bead workshops and the Ife-Ife earthworks is significantly lower. Perceived ownership of heritage is complex, with a majority attributing custodianship to the Ooni's palace, while a smaller proportion see the NCMM or the federal government as primary custodians. Attitudes toward archaeological research are broadly positive, though concerns about fair benefit distribution and the removal of artefacts to external institutions are expressed by a significant proportion of respondents. The study recommends the development of a community heritage engagement strategy by the NCMM's Ile-Ife office, centred on participatory site interpretation and transparent benefit-sharing arrangements. Keywords: community perceptions, Ile-Ife, archaeological heritage, Osun State, public archaeology.