Rare Gabon burial cave sheds light on little known period in African history

Interesting that this find contains iron artifacts, so Gabon had iron-working in the 14th-century (or long-distance trade). I have traveled some of rural West Africa where life is not too different than centuries ago – no electricity, no literacy, and the only sign of modernity is the fact that people wear second-hand t-shirts, or the packages of biscuits and sardines one might find for sale. But we know that in pre-colonial West Africa there was ironworking going on, because it was used for weapons and jewelry and there was a traditional caste dedicated to it, but none of that metallurgical activity survives today. I would have liked to have had the opportunity to witness iron being worked according to the old ways, but I suppose it is easier for communities now to import that from the outside world, even if they are cash-poor.

I wish they would leave those people alone. They wouldnt get away with that if they did it at Arlington cemetery. They'd be in prison.