Côte d’Ivoire on Monday inaugurated its first dedicated archaeological museum, marking a significant stride in the nation’s efforts to preserve and promote its rich historical heritage. The new institution, located in the Ahouati region between the economic capital Abidjan and the political capital Yamoussoukro, will display a vast collection of artifacts spanning the country’s history from the Paleolithic era to the colonial period.

The inauguration of this new annex to the main museum, situated within the Singrobo-Ahouaty hydroelectric dam operations complex, was hailed by Ivorian officials as a “historic opportunity” born from an environmental necessity. Stone Age relics, including Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts, were unearthed during the construction of the dam in Ahouati, prompting the decision to create a dedicated space for these invaluable finds.

The museum’s exhibits showcase the earliest treasures of Ivorian archaeology, including metallurgical tools, ancient bones, stone tools from various regions of Côte d’Ivoire, and even a human skeleton discovered in a funerary context. Many of these artifacts were previously held in university laboratories or in less secure conditions.

Ivorian Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Françoise Remarck, emphasized that the new infrastructure reflects the government’s commitment to positioning culture, education, and research as key pillars of national development. Health Minister Pierre Dimba further highlighted the ambition to make Côte d’Ivoire a “pioneering nation in terms of preservation and archaeological research.”

The opening comes amidst new research findings from sites like Anyama, north of Abidjan, which suggest Homo sapiens inhabited African tropical forests much earlier than previously thought – as far back as 150,000 years ago. These discoveries underscore the immense archaeological significance of Côte d’Ivoire.

On the sidelines of the inauguration, Côte d’Ivoire and Switzerland also signed a bilateral agreement aimed at enhancing the protection of Ivorian cultural heritage, including measures to combat illicit trafficking and facilitate the repatriation of illegally imported artifacts.

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com