Home Region: West Africa (Africa)

Jenne-jeno IV

900 CE 1300 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 ml_jenne_jeno_4 / MlJeJe4

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity; Jenne-Jeno III] [continuity] Update here

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 1300 CE. ’Jenne-jeno IV’ refers to the period from 900 to 1300 CE. This roughly corresponds to the tail end of the region’s ’urban prosperity’ phase, and the beginning of the ’urban shake-up’. ^[1] By this period, the inhabitants of Jenne-jeno had established long-distance trade networks and developed bronzeworking. Around 1000, they started working with brass, and the population continued to grow, reaching its peak between 1100 and 1200. They also produced an impressive corpus of terracotta figurines. However, in the 13th century, the population decreased rapidly, eventually leading to the abandonment of several sites, Jenne-jeno included, by 1400. The reasons for the decline are unclear, but they may include climate change, pandemic diseases such as plague, cultural upheaval deriving from the arrival of Islam and horses, and the emergence of the great West African empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai. ^[2]
Population and political organization
No population estimates could be found specifically for this period. However, the combined population of Jenne-jeno and its satellites within a one-kilometre radius had probably reached 10,000-26,000 people by 800 CE. The population continued to grow until 1200, and then rapidly declined in the 13th and 14th centuries. ^[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 2006, 176-177) Roderick McIntosh. 2006. Ancient Middle Niger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[3]: (McIntosh 2006, 174-77) 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 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

3 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

2 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / 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

2 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

2 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

2 War Club

2 Sword

2 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

2 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

2 Wood Bark Etc

2 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

2 Plate Armor

2 Limb Protection

2 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

2 Helmet

2 Chainmail

2 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 IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4) was in:
(900 CE 999 CE)	Niger Inland Delta

Home NGA: Niger Inland Delta

General Variables

Identity and Location Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	30 P	900 CE 1300 CE
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Original Name	Jenne-jeno IV	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Jenne-jeno Phase IV	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Djoboro	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Do-Dojobor	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Zoboro	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Old Jenne	900 CE 1300 CE
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Alternative Name	Djenne-jeno	900 CE 1300 CE
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Temporal Bounds Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	1100 CE
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Duration	[900 CE ➜ 1300 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Jenne Culture	900 CE 1300 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Sosso Kingdom	900 CE 1300 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	25,000 km²	900 CE 1300 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	900 CE 1300 CE
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Preceding Entity	continuity; Jenne-Jeno III [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	900 CE 1300 CE
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Language Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI	900 CE 1300 CE
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Religion Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[20,000 to 30,000] people	900 CE 1300 CE
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Polity Territory	1,100 km²	900 CE 1300 CE
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Polity Population	[25,000 to 30,000] people	900 CE 1300 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	- Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Military Level	- Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Administrative Level	[1 to 3]	900 CE 1300 CE
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Professions Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	900 CE 1000 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Uncertain	1001 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present Uncertain	1001 CE 1300 CE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Law Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Judge	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Court	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	900 CE 1300 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Port	Present Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	900 CE 1300 CE
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Enclosure	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Ceremonial Site	Uncoded Undecided	900 CE 1300 CE
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Information / Writing System Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Script	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	900 CE 1300 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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History	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Fiction	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Calendar	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Information / Money Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Precious Metal	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present Disputed	900 CE 1300 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent Disputed	900 CE 1300 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present Inferred	900 CE 1300 CE
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Article	Present	900 CE 1300 CE
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Information / Postal System Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Information / Measurement System Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moat	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Ditch	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Military use of Metals Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Iron	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Iron	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Copper	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Bronze	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Projectiles Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Sling	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Self Bow	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Self Bow	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Javelin	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Javelin	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Composite Bow	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Handheld weapons Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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War Club	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Sword	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Sword	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Spear	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Spear	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Polearm	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Dagger	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Battle Axe	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Animals used in warfare Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Horse	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Elephant	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Donkey	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Dog	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Camel	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Armor Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Wood Bark Etc	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Shield	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Shield	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Plate Armor	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Limb Protection	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Helmet	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Helmet	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Chainmail	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Chainmail	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Breastplate	Present Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Breastplate	Absent Uncertain	900 CE 1300 CE
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Naval technology Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	900 CE 1300 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	900 CE 1300 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Unknown	900 CE 1300 CE
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Human Sacrifice Jenne-jeno IV (ml_jenne_jeno_4)

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