| Part ofa series on |
| Serers andSerer religion |
|---|
.jpg) |
Education |
Theprehistoric and ancient history of theSerer people of modern-daySenegambia has been extensively studied and documented over the years. Much of it comes fromarchaeological discoveries and Serer tradition rooted in theSerer religion.[2][3]
In Charles Becker's paper titled "Vestiges historiques, trémoins matériels du passé clans les pays Sereer", two types of Serer relics were noted: "the non-material remains which are cultural in nature" and "material remains, which are many revealed through products orartefacts."[2]The historicalvestiges of Serer country in modern-daySenegambia, the diversity of Serer culture manifested across dialects, family and social organisation which reflect different historical territories were observed.
Although many Serer artefacts remain unknown, unlisted and preserved despite the efforts in the 1960s and 1970s to collect, archive and document them all, many material relics were found in different Serer countries, most of which refer to the past origins of Serer families, villages and Serer Kingdoms. Some of these Serer relics includedgold,silver and metals.[2][4]The known objects found in Serer countries, are divided into two types:
1. the remnants of earlier populations.
2.Lateritemegaliths carved planted in circular structures withstones directed towards the east are found only in small parts of the ancient Sererkingdom of Saloum.
Megalithic zone: Many megalithic sites include mounts in the ancient Kingdom of Saloum, with a frequent association of mound of sand withmegalithic stones – front to East.[6]
Shellmounds are also found in the islands and around the estuary of Saloum. In the provinces of the Gandun, Numi, Saloum and south-westernSine aroundJoal, 139 sites have been identified and they sometimes have shapedburial mounds.[2][7] These relics are very numerous and imposing.[6] The graves of the founding ancestors were also very often sanctified as"Fangool" (singular ofPangool: "ancestral spirit" or "saint" inSerer religion). Such relics associated with the ancestors are often venerated relics.[2] For example, the relics evoking memories of migration or foundation of states are sometimes sacralised. The remnants of royalty in the Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum are similar because the "Geulowars" (the last maternal dynasty in Sine and Saloum - 14th to 20th century[8]) have the sameSerer tradition, but there are peculiarities in the objects and the scene of thecoronation of royalty and power which have existed since the beginnings ofdynasty with the annual ritual and mandatory ceremonies.[2] The family relics in other Serer countries which are brought fromTakrur (nowFuta Toro) orKaabu by the founders were also noted in places of worship of the village or province history. This may be stone, wood,musical instruments, ceremonial objects used by theSaltigue (Serer High Priests and Priestesses) or "Yaal Pangool".[2] These relics kept by families since ancient times remain largely unknown.[2]
There are two types of Serer relics relating to two lineages that come into play in the social organisation of the Serer people:
The history of the Serer people who resided at Takrur (now Futa Toro) which was part of what is generally referred to as Serer country,[9] the influence of theirculture, history,religion and tradition on the land is summarized by Becker in the following terms:
Finally we should remember the important relic call Sereer inFouta, but also in the former countries of the Ferlo,Jolof andKajoor, which marked the migration of proto-Sereer, whose imprint on the Fouta was so significant and remains in the memory of theHalpulaareen [speakers of the Pulaar language inSenegal and theGambia such asFula people andToucouleur people].[2]
