Spatial Analysis of Midden Deposits at a Coastal Site in Badagry, Lagos State

Shell middens are among the most informative archaeological features along Nigeria's Atlantic coastline, encoding evidence of diet, seasonality, site use intensity, and environmental change over millennia. This study examines midden deposits at a coastal locality in Badagry, Lagos State, using spatial mapping, stratigraphic description, and faunal identification to reconstruct patterns of subsistence and site occupation. The research was motivated by ongoing coastal development that threatens the integrity of exposed deposits along the Lagos lagoon shoreline. Field data were collected through systematic surface collection across twenty-five metre-square units, supplemented by a series of hand-dug test pits reaching culturally sterile sediments at varying depths. Identified fauna include estuarine oyster, periwinkle, and various marine fish taxa, consistent with a fishing and shellfish-gathering economy. Spatial analysis reveals that different areas of the midden contain distinct faunal assemblages, suggesting task-specific discard patterns rather than uniform refuse accumulation. The study engages with recent coastal archaeology literature from the Bight of Benin and Gulf of Guinea, placing Badagry within a regional network of lagoon-based communities. Charcoal recovered from hearth features provides material for future radiocarbon dating. The research highlights the need for immediate protective measures at this and adjacent midden localities, several of which face imminent destruction from hotel and resort construction. Keywords: shell midden, coastal archaeology, Badagry, subsistence patterns, Lagos State.