Home Region:  West Africa (Africa)

Jenne-jeno I

250 BCE 49 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  ml_jenne_jeno_1 / MlJeJe1
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[suspected unknown; suspected unknown] [unknown]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
50 CE 399 CE Jenne-jeno II (ml_jenne_jeno_2)    [continuity]


  General Description   The archaeological site of Jenne-jeno (or Djenné-djenno) is a mound located in the Niger Inland Delta, a region of West Africa just south of the Sahara and part of modern-day Mali, characterized by lakes and floodplains. It was continuously inhabited between 250 BCE and 1400 CE. ’Jenne-jeno I’ refers to the period of earliest occupation, from 250 BCE to 50 CE. During this time, the site’s inhabitants fished, gathered wild plants, hunted, and cultivated rice (as well as millet and sorghum). They also made and used pottery, and smelted, smithed and used iron, though they probably imported the raw material for the latter from far afield. [1]
Population and political organization
There does not seem to be enough data to reconstruct Jenne-jeno’s political or social organization at this time, but even for later periods, there is a lack of archaeological evidence for ’coercive’ centralized control or the development of hierarchical social structures. [2] It is also unclear how many people were living at Jenne-jeno or at the surrounding sites. However, one of the site’s excavators, Roderick McIntosh, does say that the founding population was probably not inconsiderable, and expanded rapidly. [1]

[1]: (McIntosh 2006, 174-75) Roderick McIntosh. 2006. Ancient Middle Niger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[2]: (Reader 1998, 225, 228) John Reader. 1998. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. London: Penguin Books.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1) was in:
 (250 BCE 49 CE)   Niger Inland Delta
Home NGA: Niger Inland Delta
General Variables
Identity and Location Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 30 P Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Original Name Jenne-jeno I Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Capital Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Old Jenne Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Jenne-jeno Phase I Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Djoboro Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Do-Dojobor Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Zoboro Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Alternative Name Djenne-jeno Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Temporal Bounds Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 49 CE Confident
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Duration [250 BCE ➜ 49 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations unknown [---] Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Supracultural Entity Sahel Tell Culture Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Succeeding Entity Jenne-jeno II Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction [1,500,000 to 2,500,000] km2 Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity suspected unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Preceding Entity
CE
suspected unknown; suspected unknown [unknown]    Update here
Suspected
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Succeeding Entity
50 CE 399 CE
Jenne-jeno II (ml_jenne_jeno_2)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Language Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family suspected unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Language unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Religion Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [100 to 150] people Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Polity Territory [5 to 10] km2 Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Polity Population [200 to 300] people Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Religious Level - Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Military Level - Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Administrative Level 1 Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Professions Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Professional Priesthood Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Occupational Complexity Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Law Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
Court Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Communal Building Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Special Purpose House Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Port Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Special Purpose Site Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Enclosure Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Ceremonial Site Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Burial Site Uncoded Undecided 250 BCE  49 CE
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Information / Writing System Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Script Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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History Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Fiction Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Information / Money Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Indigenous Coin Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Article Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Information / Postal System Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Information / Measurement System Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Long Wall 0 km Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Military use of Metals Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Iron Present Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Iron Absent Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Copper Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Projectiles Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Sling Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Self Bow Absent Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Javelin Present Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Javelin Absent Confident Uncertain 250 BCE  49 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Atlatl Absent Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Handheld weapons Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Inferred 250 BCE  49 CE
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Sword Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Spear Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Polearm Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Dagger Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Animals used in warfare Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Armor Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Shield Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Leather Cloth Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Helmet Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Breastplate Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Naval technology Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 250 BCE  49 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 250 BCE  49 CE
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Human Sacrifice Jenne-jeno I (ml_jenne_jeno_1)
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Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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