Inventory and Assessment of Intangible Heritage Associated with Archaeological Sites in Kogi State

Intangible cultural heritage, encompassing oral traditions, ritual practices, performing arts, and traditional knowledge, is frequently inseparable from the archaeological sites with which it is associated, yet heritage inventories in Nigeria typically privilege the physical over the living dimensions of cultural heritage. This study inventories and assesses intangible heritage associated with archaeological sites in Kogi State, a culturally complex zone where Igala, Ebira, Okun, and Bassa communities maintain active ritual and traditional knowledge connections to pre-colonial sites. The study covers fifteen archaeological localities including the Igala royal mounds at Idah, the Ebira iron smelting sites of Okene, and a series of rock shrine complexes in the Okun area. At each locality, intangible heritage elements were documented through participatory community sessions, expert elder interviews, and where permissible, ritual observation. A total of forty-seven distinct intangible heritage elements were catalogued, including praise poetry linked to royal mound founders, seasonal agricultural ceremonies at smelting sites, and healing rituals conducted at specific rock features. The assessment evaluates each element for vitality, transmission status, and vulnerability, finding that thirteen are critically endangered due to elderly knowledge holder demographics and declining youth engagement. The study recommends a joint programme between the Kogi State History and Culture Commission and the UNESCO National Committee to document and support the transmission of endangered intangible heritage elements, with particular urgency for oral traditions held by individual elderly custodians. Keywords: intangible heritage, Kogi State, archaeological sites, oral traditions, heritage inventory.