A groundbreaking Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) survey conducted over the Jos Plateau in Central Nigeria has revealed an extensive, previously invisible network of stone-walled terraces and irrigation channels. These structures are attributed to the Nok Culture, dating between 1500 BCE and 200 CE. While the Nok are famous for their stylized terracotta sculptures, this is the first evidence showing they were masters of large-scale landscape engineering and sustainable tropical agriculture.
The survey identified over 500 individual terraced sites that allowed the Nok to cultivate steep hillsides, effectively doubling their arable land. The irrigation system utilized a series of check-dams and silt-traps that managed seasonal rainfall, preventing soil erosion while ensuring a year-round water supply for crops like pearl millet and cowpeas. This evidence suggests that the Nok lived in high-density urban or semi-urban clusters supported by a robust agricultural surplus.
The discovery fundamentally rewrites the history of West African socio-economic development, proving that complex, sedentary civilizations with advanced hydrological knowledge existed in the region over three millennia ago. Researchers are now focusing on ground-truthing these sites to recover botanical remains that could provide clues into how these ancient farmers adapted to prehistoric climate fluctuations.