Home Region: West Africa (Africa)

Jenne-jeno III

400 CE 899 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 ml_jenne_jeno_3 / MlJeJe3

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

50 CE 399 CE Jenne-jeno II (ml_jenne_jeno_2) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

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 III’ refers to the period from 400 to 900 CE. This roughly corresponds to the region’s ’urban prosperity’ phase. ^[1] Though subsistence strategies remained largely unchanged, a number of important transformations occurred: the inhabitants of Jenne-jeno grew in number, established long-distance trade networks, and developed more sophisticated metalworking techniques. ^[2] ^[1]
Population and political organization
Between 400 and 800 CE, Jenne-jeno grew from 25 to 33 hectares. Population density was likely high, and a conservative estimate puts the population of Jenne-jeno and its satellites within a one-kilometre radius at 10,000-26,000 people around 800 CE. ^[3]
The political organization of Jenne-jeno may have been quite different from that of other ancient cities. In several decades of excavation, clear evidence for hierarchies of any kind has yet to be unearthed: it seems that Jenne-jeno had no palaces, rich tombs, temples, public buildings, or monumental architecture. Indeed, the city’s very layout ‒ an assemblage of dispersed clusters ‒ suggests a resistance to centralization. ^[4] It is possible that, at this time, Niger Inland Delta society was organized ’heterarchically’ rather than hierarchically: that is, it was divided into multiple components, each deriving authority from separate or overlapping sources, with mechanisms in place to prevent any one group from monopolizing power. ^[5]

[1]: (McIntosh 2006, 175-76) Roderick McIntosh. 2006. Ancient Middle Niger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[2]: (McIntosh and McIntosh 1981, 1) Roderick J. McIntosh and Susan K. McIntosh. 1981. ’The Inland Niger Delta before the Empire of Mali: Evidence from Jenne-jeno’. Journal of African History 22 (1): 1-22.

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

[4]: (McIntosh 2006, 189) Roderick McIntosh. 2006. Ancient Middle Niger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[5]: (McIntosh 2006, 228-29) Roderick McIntosh. 2006. Ancient Middle Niger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

6 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Occupational Complexity

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

1 Enclosure

1 Ceremonial Site

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

1 Weight Measurement System

1 Volume Measurement System

1 Time Measurement System

1 Length Measurement System

1 Geometrical Measurement System

1 Area Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

2 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

2 Self Bow

2 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3) was in:
(400 CE 899 CE)	Niger Inland Delta

Home NGA: Niger Inland Delta

General Variables

Identity and Location Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	30 P	400 CE 899 CE
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Original Name	Jenne-jeno III	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Jenne-jeno Phase III	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Djoboro	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Do-Dojobor	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Zoboro	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Old Jenne	400 CE 899 CE
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Alternative Name	Djenne-jeno	400 CE 899 CE
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Temporal Bounds Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	899 CE
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Duration	[400 CE ➜ 899 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Jenne Culture	400 CE 899 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Jenne-Jeno IV	400 CE 899 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	25,000 km²	400 CE 899 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuation	400 CE 899 CE
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Preceding Entity 50 CE 399 CE	Jenne-jeno II (ml_jenne_jeno_2) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	400 CE 899 CE
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Language Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI	400 CE 899 CE
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Religion Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[7,000 to 8,000] people	400 CE 899 CE
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Polity Territory	1,100 km²	400 CE 899 CE
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Polity Population	[10,000 to 26,000] people	400 CE 899 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	3	400 CE 899 CE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Administrative Level	[1 to 2]	400 CE 899 CE
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Professions Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Law Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Judge	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Court	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	400 CE 899 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Port	Present Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	400 CE 899 CE
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Enclosure	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Ceremonial Site	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Information / Writing System Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Script	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	400 CE 899 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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History	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Fiction	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Calendar	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Information / Money Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Precious Metal	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Foreign Coin	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Article	Present Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Information / Postal System Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Information / Measurement System Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Weight Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Volume Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Time Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Length Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Geometrical Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Area Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	400 CE 899 CE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Moat	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Ditch	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Military use of Metals Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Iron	Present Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Iron	Absent Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Copper	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Bronze	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Projectiles Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Self Bow	Absent Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Self Bow	Present Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Javelin	Present Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Javelin	Absent Uncertain	400 CE 899 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Atlatl	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Handheld weapons Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Sword	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Spear	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Polearm	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Dagger	Absent Inferred	400 CE 899 CE
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Battle Axe	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Animals used in warfare Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Elephant	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Donkey	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Dog	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Camel	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Armor Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Shield	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Helmet	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Breastplate	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Naval technology Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	400 CE 899 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	400 CE 899 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Unknown	400 CE 899 CE
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Human Sacrifice Jenne-jeno III (ml_jenne_jeno_3)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More