Excavations at Birnin Lafiya unearthed hundreds of imported glass beads, many of which could be traced to Egyptian and Middle Eastern origins, thus illuminating the existence of cross-Saharan trade routes.
Moreover, the researchers detected several distinct African bead-making centers. This implies that imported beads were redistributed and locally crafted beads incorporated into various African trade networks.
This archaeological evidence, combined with oral histories, suggests that the long-term stability and resilience of African polities and markets were tied to their integration into international networks for gold and copper, as well as various other commodities.
