Ruines de Loropéni au Burkina Faso, en 2017

Modern homes near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. The Loropéni archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or-Fort project, will provide insights as…

Perimeter wall around the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. Encroaching vegetation is slowly damaging the stone structures. This archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being…

Fig trees on the perimeter wall around the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. Trees are weakening the stone structures. This archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being…

Southwest corner of the ruined fortress in Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or-Fort project, will provide…

Rubble, probably resulting from dismantling an archaeological structure, in a clearing near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research,…

Excavating an archaeological structure around the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. Cord has been laid in a grid to form a frame of reference, enabling discoveries to be systematically plotted on a plan of the site. The Loropéni archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they…

The principal excavation area at the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. The ground is overlaid with a grid that provides a frame of reference enabling discoveries to be systematically plotted on a plan of the site. The Loropéni archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may…

The principal excavation area at the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. The ground is overlaid with a grid that provides a frame of reference enabling discoveries to be systematically plotted on a plan of the site. The Loropéni archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may…

Rodrigue Guillon, archaeologist and joint manager of the Lobi-Or-Fort project in the principal excavation area at the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000…

The principal excavation area at the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. The Loropéni archaeological site, surrounded by tall stone walls, covers an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the purpose of the ruins is still not fully understood, they may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or-Fort project,…

The geophysicist Christian Camerlynck, during a magnetic prospecting campaign at the Kongonyo site near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This technique is used to measure fluctuations in the field's vertical magnetic gradient, revealing archaeological structures such as foundations, ovens and fireplaces. The Loropéni site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone…

A magnetic prospecting campaign at the Kongonyo site near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This technique is used to measure fluctuations in the field's vertical magnetic gradient, revealing archaeological structures such as foundations, ovens and fireplaces. The Loropéni site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not…

The archaeologist Rodrigue Guillon annotates specimens at the Kongonyo site near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. The ruins, surrounded by tall stone walls, cover an area of almost 10,000 sq. m. The earliest inhabited levels are believed to date from a period extending from the 11th to 15th centuries. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or…

The socioanthropologist Quentin Mégret interviews the earth-priest of the village of Obiré, near the ruins of Loropéni in Burkina Faso. Ethnographic investigations are being conducted to study the settlement history, interethnic relations, perceptions and representations of the ruined buildings in Loropéni. This site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls…

Modern homes near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. This site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or-Fort project, will provide insights as a result of a multi…

The archaeological survey team at the Kongonyo site, near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso, receives a visit from His Majesty, King Gan (foreground, right). The Loropéni site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This…

The archaeological survey team at the Kongonyo site, near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso, receives a visit from His Majesty, King Gan (background, centre). The Loropéni site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This…

The archaeologist Jean-Baptiste Coulibaly, holding a complete ceramic item found at the Kongonyo site, near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. These ruins, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, are surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being…

Fallow fields at the Kongonyo site near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso. These ruins, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, are surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This research, being conducted as part of the Lobi-Or-Fort project, will provide insights as…

The archaeological survey team at the Kongonyo site, near the ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso, receives a visit from His Majesty, King Gan (background, centre). The Loropéni site, extending over almost 10,000 sq. m and built on several levels, the oldest of which date back to the period from the 11th to 15th centuries, is surrounded by high stone walls. Although the site's purpose is still not fully understood, it may relate to the region's gold mines, which have been worked since 1000 AD. This…