Ikom monoliths

Template:Use Nigerian English

Ikom monolith, Calabar Museum

The Ikom monoliths are a series of volcanic-stone monoliths from the area of Ikom, Cross River State, Nigeria. The Ejagham may have engraved the monoliths around 200 CE. The monoliths are also called Akwaanshi or Atal among the Ejagham people.[1][2]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Conservation risk
* 3 Museum collections
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Description

The stones are distributed among over thirty communities, in each community, they are found in circles, facing each other erect. Numbering about 300 in total, the monoliths are between 0.3 m (0.98 ft) and 1.8 m (5.9 ft) high and are laid out in some thirty circles located around Alok in the Ikom area of Cross River State. They may be located in the central meeting place of the village or in the uncultivated area outside the village. The monoliths are carved in hard, medium-textured basaltic rock, a few are carved in sandstone and shelly limestone; they are phallic in form and some feature stylized faces as well as decorative patterns and inscriptions. Although the carvings have not been deciphered, researchers and linguists believe that the inscriptions may represent a form of writing and visual communication.[2][3]

## Conservation risk

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Exposure to extreme weather conditions have put these monoliths at risk of erosion and deterioration. The monoliths are also located in an area where the nearby people do not commonly see their worth as tourist attractions. They were added to the World Monuments Fund's list of sites in danger in 2008.[4] In 2020, Ikom monoliths were found by U.S Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport under fraudulent documents. At the time of the seizure, CBP officials indicated that the artifacts would be returned to Cameroon.[5] The artifacts will be returned to Cross River (Nigeria).[6] The smuggling of Ikom monoliths to the US highlights the shortage of heritage and archeology staff in the Nigerian public administration.[7]

## Museum collections

Ikom monolith in the British Museum

A medium-sized example of an Ikom monolith with human facial features can be found in the British Museum's collection.[8]<mapframe latitude="5.961656" longitude="8.720398" zoom="10" width="274" height="184" text="The monoliths can be found in the Ikom area of Cross river, Nigeria." />

## References

1. ↑ Onor, Sandy (2015). "Chronology and Oral Historical Reconstruction: The Example of the Ejagham of the Cross River Region of Nigeria". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 24: 37–55. ISSN 0018-2540. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24768928. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Alok Ikom Stone Monoliths - UNESCO World Heritage Centre" (in en). https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5173/.
3. ↑ "Ikom Monoliths of Cross River State | World Monuments Fund". https://www.wmf.org/project/ikom-monoliths-cross-river-state.
4. ↑ "Ikom Monoliths of Cross River State" (in en). https://www.wmf.org/project/ikom-monoliths-cross-river-state. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
5. ↑ "United States Officials Intercept Ancient Artefacts Smuggled From Cross River State At Miami Airport". Sahara Reporters (New York City, United States). 2020-10-27. https://saharareporters.com/2020/10/27/united-states-officials-intercept-ancient-artefacts-smuggled-cross-river-state-miami.
6. ↑ Nomishan, Terngu Sylvanus; Tubi, Paul-Kolade; Gubam, Dimas Solomon (2023-11-23). "Cultural heritage management and the effect of corruption in Nigeria: hampering sustainable development via cultural heritage destruction" (in en). Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 13 (4): 662–684. doi:10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2020-0175. ISSN 2044-1266. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2020-0175/full/html.
7. ↑ Nomishan, Terngu Sylvanus; Gubam, Dimas Solomon; Ugwuanyi, J. Kelechi (January 2025). "Expanding Horizons: Contemporary Dynamics and Challenges in Public Archaeology in Nigeria". EXARC Journal 2025 (1): n/a. https://exarc.net/ark:/88735/10789.
8. ↑ "figure". https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=611818&partId=1&people=41274&peoA=41274-3-7&page=1.

## External links

* Ikom monoliths to change status of Cross River

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