Enugu community, Lejja, lays claim to cradle of civilisation in West Africa

The Lejja community in Enugu State has recently gained global attention due to archaeological discoveries suggesting it may be one of the oldest iron-smelting sites in the world. Research by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Oxford has carbon-dated materials to around 2000 BCE, challenging traditional origins of the Iron Age. Findings, including slag blocks and furnace remnants, indicate advanced mastery of iron production in this region. This suggests that Lejja may have independently developed this technology much earlier than previously believed.