Tourism Areas

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS/TOURISM SITES

AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

S/N	SITE	MONUMENTS
1	Durbi Takusheyi
		1	Earthen tombs
		2	Kukar Katsi (Baobab tree from which Katsina derived its name)
		3	Kukar Kumayau
		4	Batare tare stone (said to be sacred at which people worship)
		5	Birnin haganga
		6	Dutsin kwarangwatsau Tsarara
2	Other exiting monuments with a long local legend
		1	Gidan Durbawa (origin of Durbawa/Saulawa ruling dynasty)
		2	Kukar tsito (baobab gives alarm to people wherever enemies approach the town in time of war).
		3	Jakara (snake at magami village
		4	Dutsen raga
		5	Dutsen tuje
		6	Gawon janzama

DURBI TA KUSHEYI

This is an ancient site featuring several earthen mounds located about 40 kilometers east of Katsina. Local traditions say the mounds are the graves of giant hunters called ‘Adawa’. The discovery of microliths by R. Soper on the mounds suggests that there were continuous settlements there since the late stone age. The giant hunters mentioned in the traditions probably represent in the collective folk memory of the people, the hunting communities of the late stone-age whose way of life would have rapidly vanished with the introduction of iron weapons and implements. Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi was probably a centre where the transition to iron using technology and permanent agriculture took place.

Another tradition states that the earthen mounds are the graves of the ancient Hausa rulers of Katsina whose capital was at Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi. The legends state further that the rulers who died were buried with all their possessions. The existence of baobab trees, streams and Isenberg indicates that the area was inhabited in the past.

The first excavation at Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi was carried out in 1907 by H.R. Palmer, a British colonial officer. During the excavation, two Tumuli (graves) were dug. However, from the oral traditions recorded from the local people, only an arm ring, possibly of stone, and an iron cutlass were found. The where about of these finds is unknown.

In April 1992, a team of archaeologist came from the National Commission for Museums an Monuments for another excavation work at Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi. The team was headed by a renowed German archaeologist, Dr. Leisegang. The purpose of the excavation work include among others:

1. To obtain clues as to the period the site was occupied.

2. To explore the site and determine its nature (settlement? Cemetery?).

3. To identify possible contemporary sites and try to corroborate or quantify the oral traditions.

4. To document cultural and structural aspects of the site in order to place them on the record of cultural, economic and social development of this part of Nigeria.

5. To update the earlier survey and excavation carried out by Palmer in 1907.

6. To have a fuller picture of the history of this part of he country since Katsina’s history is linked with that of Daura, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Zazzau, Songhai etc.

During the excavation, data collection on the history of the state as well as measurement and mapping of the whole area were carried out and ten pits or trenches were dug. Initial findings include Charcoal, pot shreds, flakes and late stone-age tools which were on mere ground on test pits. However, after three weeks of intensive work, the archaeologists made several significant discoveries as shown in the following table.

TRENCH	FINDINGS
IV	Two medium size copper bangles Numerous cowry shells Numerous Ivory Arm Rings One metal bar (which seems to be a staff of office) Two copper bangles with decoration.
V	Two copper ankles Ten big size copper bangles One copper plate One copper spoon One spoke like copper object Two copper bars Pieces of wood Numerous cowries shells Tiny beards of different colours Five copper finger rings
VII	1 big copper pot 2 copper buckets 1 small copper pot 1 copper spoon 2 Ivory Arm Rings 2 gold finger rings I glass finger rings 6 small size copper bungles Numerous semi precious stones (Tsakiya) A small copper necklace Numerous small size beads of different colours

The above mentioned finds however requires conservation measures and analysis by specialists before they can be exhibited to the public. Similarly, the date of their burial has to be determined. A radio carbon dating (c-14) is necessary in this regard.

The excavations were significant not only to the history of Katsina but indeed the whole West African Sub-region. Just as the excavation carried out at Ife, Igbo-Ukwu, Nok and Benin revealed the culture of the early settlements including their sophisticated technology and civilization, so has the excavation at Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi revealed that brass casting, which was erroneously believed to have been introduced by the Portuguese, was indeed the art of Ife people invented probably in the early 11^th century. Also at Igbo-Ukwu near Awka in Anambra state, a number of richly ornamented bowls and curiously fashioned articles for ceremonial use were found in 1939. It was presumed that those works were probably part of the dress and utensils of a former chief priest whose descendents possessed a small old bronze mask from Benin, which he wore like the Attah of Idah wears his mask. The Ugbo Ukwu sculpture found in the excavation was dated by five radio carbon dates which showed that it must have been buried by the 9^th century AD.

Luckly in 2004, Dr. Detlef Gronenborn of the Romisch Germanisches Zental Museum in Mainz, Germany, proposed the full scientific analysis and restoration of Durbi-Ta-Kusheyi materials in his Museum Laboratory in Mainz. The project was to be conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Universities in Mainz and Praque. The process is proposed to include full restoration of the materials to bring them to suitable condition for public display. The result of the investigation is to published and is expected to attract enough interest for further research in Katsina State. Expenses for the restoration were to be covered from a research grant from the Museaum in Mainz.

Source: Katsina State History and Culture Bureau