In the ruins of a 9th-century settlement in modern-day Mauritania, archaeologists have unearthed rare "Wealth-Giver" masks decorated with gold-leafed cowrie shells. These masks provide the first physical evidence of the origins of early West African distribution festivals, where the ruling elite showcased their power by providing community-wide feasts and gifting precious materials to the populace.
The masks, which feature stylized feline features, indicate that the Festival of the Wealth-Giver was a precursor to several modern harvest and social status traditions across the Sahel region. The research team notes that the presence of cowrie shells from the Indian Ocean emphasizes the trans-Saharan connections that fueled the grandeur of these ancient heritage celebrations.