The Iya of Benin<\/strong>, commonly described as the Benin earthworks or Benin City earthworks, are among the most remarkable surviving monuments of the Benin cultural landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are not merely earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what remains must be protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archaeological research has demonstrated that the Benin Iya form an extensive network of ditches and earthen ramparts associated with hundreds of settlements across the wider Benin and Esan landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent research estimates the wider earthwork system at approximately 16,000 kilometres<\/strong>, covering about 6,500 square kilometres<\/strong>, although the precise extent and chronology remain subjects of continuing archaeological investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The evidence also shows that the Iya should not simply be understood as one wall built at one time by one ruler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They represent a complex landscape whose construction, modification and expansion occurred over an extended period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Benin traditions preserve accounts associating particular earthworks with particular rulers. Archaeology provides another body of evidence, and scholars continue to investigate how the different sections developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye believes these sources should be studied together rather than placed unnecessarily in opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye will distinguish clearly between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n BENIN TRADITION<\/strong> \u2014 What has been preserved through Benin historical memory, oral traditions and traditional accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE<\/strong> \u2014 What physical remains, excavation, dating and archaeological research demonstrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE<\/strong> \u2014 What early written records actually record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SCHOLARLY INTERPRETATION<\/strong> \u2014 How historians, archaeologists and other researchers interpret the available evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UNCERTAINTY<\/strong> \u2014 What remains unresolved and requires further investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This approach does not weaken Benin history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It strengthens it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The surviving Iya face serious pressure from urban development and other forms of human activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent archaeological research has documented substantial loss of earthworks within Benin City and has emphasized the urgent need for conservation and community involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every section that disappears represents the loss of physical evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every undocumented traditional name risks being forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every elder who passes away without having their knowledge recorded may take part of the historical memory with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye proposes the development of a structured Iya Heritage Archive<\/strong> to document surviving and historically remembered sections of the Benin earthworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For every site that can responsibly be documented, the archive should record:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each documented site should receive a unique identification number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n IYA-001<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n IYA-002<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n IYA-003<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, these records can become part of a permanent digital heritage archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the most urgent tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elders and community custodians who possess knowledge about surviving Iya should be interviewed respectfully and, where they consent, recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Questions should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is this earthwork called?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What is its traditional history?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Who is traditionally associated with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What was it used for?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Where did it originally extend?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What has disappeared?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When did the changes begin?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What does the community remember that may not exist in written records?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Where possible, interviews should preserve the Edo-language testimony<\/strong>, followed by accurate transcription and English translation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this way, Iya preservation can also become Edo-language preservation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preservation does not mean documenting only what survives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where an Iya has already been destroyed or severely damaged, \u1eb8domaye should document the history of the loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We should record:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Where was it located?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What remains?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When was it lost?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What caused the destruction?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Are older photographs or testimonies available?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A destroyed monument should not become a forgotten monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its history should remain in the archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One long-term goal should be an \u1eb8domaye Iya Heritage Map<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The map could eventually identify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surviving Iya<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Partially surviving Iya<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Destroyed Iya<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditional sites<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sites requiring archaeological investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sites requiring urgent preservation attention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The map does not need to begin perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can grow as evidence is responsibly collected and verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye cannot and should not attempt to preserve the Iya alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The communities living around the earthworks are essential partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preservation should involve, where appropriate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The people who live with the heritage must have a meaningful voice in its preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preservation must be responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye should not excavate, dig into, rebuild, alter or remove archaeological material<\/strong> without appropriate professional authority and legal permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our immediate responsibilities are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n DOCUMENT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n EDUCATE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n RAISE AWARENESS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH PROFESSIONALS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTION.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Benin Kingdom Earthworks are included on Nigeria’s UNESCO Tentative List<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is important, but it must be stated accurately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tentative List status is not the same as UNESCO World Heritage inscription.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye therefore supports serious continued work toward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will document what remains.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will record what our elders remember.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will preserve Edo-language testimony.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will distinguish tradition from archaeological evidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will acknowledge uncertainty where evidence is incomplete.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will document destruction rather than allow it to disappear without a record.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will educate our children.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will work with communities and qualified heritage professionals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will advocate for serious conservation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will preserve the Iya for generations yet unborn.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a community elder, historian, archaeologist, researcher, student, photographer, heritage worker or resident with knowledge, photographs, documents or oral history relating to the Benin Iya, \u1eb8domaye welcomes responsible collaboration and documentation efforts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us record what remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us preserve what our ancestors left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us teach the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us ensure that the story of the Iya does not disappear with the earthworks themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preserving Culture & Empowering Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n WE ARE IN BENIN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n LET THE LEOPARD ROAR AS LOUD AS IT CAN EVER BE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article distinguishes Benin traditional accounts from archaeological evidence and scholarly interpretation. The chronology and development of the Iya remain subjects of continuing research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key references include archaeological research published in African Archaeological Review<\/em>, UNESCO’s documentation concerning the Benin Kingdom Earthworks, and NASA’s Earth-observation coverage of the Benin earthworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1eb8domaye will update this article when new credible archaeological, historical or documentary evidence becomes available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical preservation requires both respect for tradition and commitment to evidence.<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Document. Protect. Preserve. Pass It On. An \u1eb8domaye Call to Preserve the Ancient Benin Earthworks The Iya of Benin, commonly described as the Benin earthworks or Benin City earthworks, are among the most remarkable surviving monuments of the Benin cultural landscape. They are not merely earth. They are history. They are engineering. They are landscape. They are memory. And what remains must be protected. WHY PRESERVATION MUST BEGIN NOW Archaeological research has demonstrated that the Benin Iya form an extensive network of ditches and earthen ramparts associated with hundreds of settlements across the wider Benin and Esan landscape. Recent research estimates the wider earthwork system at approximately 16,000 kilometres, covering about 6,500 square kilometres, although the precise extent and chronology remain subjects of continuing archaeological investigation. The evidence also shows that the Iya should not simply be understood as one wall built at one time by one ruler. They represent a complex landscape whose construction, modification and expansion occurred over an extended period. Benin traditions preserve accounts associating particular earthworks with particular rulers. Archaeology provides another body of evidence, and scholars continue to investigate how the different sections developed. \u1eb8domaye believes these sources should be studied together rather than placed unnecessarily in opposition. OUR HISTORICAL PRINCIPLE \u1eb8domaye will distinguish clearly between: BENIN TRADITION \u2014 What has been preserved through Benin historical memory, oral traditions and traditional accounts. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE \u2014 What physical remains, excavation, dating and archaeological research demonstrate. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE \u2014 What early written records actually record. SCHOLARLY INTERPRETATION \u2014 How historians, archaeologists and other researchers interpret the available evidence. UNCERTAINTY \u2014 What remains unresolved and requires further investigation. This approach does not weaken Benin history. It strengthens it. THE PRESERVATION CHALLENGE The surviving Iya face serious pressure from urban development and other forms of human activity. Recent archaeological research has documented substantial loss of earthworks within Benin City and has emphasized the urgent need for conservation and community involvement. Every section that disappears represents the loss of physical evidence. Every undocumented traditional name risks being forgotten. Every elder who passes away without having their knowledge recorded may take part of the historical memory with them. Therefore: WE MUST DOCUMENT NOW. THE \u1eb8DOMAYE IYA HERITAGE ARCHIVE \u1eb8domaye proposes the development of a structured Iya Heritage Archive to document surviving and historically remembered sections of the Benin earthworks. For every site that can responsibly be documented, the archive should record: Each documented site should receive a unique identification number. For example: IYA-001 IYA-002 IYA-003 and so forth. Over time, these records can become part of a permanent digital heritage archive. DOCUMENT THE ELDERS This is one of the most urgent tasks. Elders and community custodians who possess knowledge about surviving Iya should be interviewed respectfully and, where they consent, recorded. Questions should include: What is this earthwork called? What is its traditional history? Who is traditionally associated with it? What was it used for? Where did it originally extend? What has disappeared? When did the changes begin? What does the community remember that may not exist in written records? Where possible, interviews should preserve the Edo-language testimony, followed by accurate transcription and English translation. In this way, Iya preservation can also become Edo-language preservation. DOCUMENT WHAT HAS ALREADY DISAPPEARED Preservation does not mean documenting only what survives. Where an Iya has already been destroyed or severely damaged, \u1eb8domaye should document the history of the loss. We should record: What was there? Where was it located? What remains? When was it lost? What caused the destruction? Are older photographs or testimonies available? A destroyed monument should not become a forgotten monument. Its history should remain in the archive. CREATE THE \u1eb8DOMAYE IYA MAP One long-term goal should be an \u1eb8domaye Iya Heritage Map. The map could eventually identify: Surviving Iya Partially surviving Iya Destroyed Iya Traditional sites Sites requiring archaeological investigation Sites requiring urgent preservation attention The map does not need to begin perfectly. It can grow as evidence is responsibly collected and verified. COMMUNITY MUST BE AT THE CENTRE \u1eb8domaye cannot and should not attempt to preserve the Iya alone. The communities living around the earthworks are essential partners. Preservation should involve, where appropriate: The people who live with the heritage must have a meaningful voice in its preservation. WE MUST NOT DAMAGE THE EVIDENCE Preservation must be responsible. \u1eb8domaye should not excavate, dig into, rebuild, alter or remove archaeological material without appropriate professional authority and legal permission. Our immediate responsibilities are: DOCUMENT. EDUCATE. RAISE AWARENESS. CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH PROFESSIONALS. ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTION. WORK TOWARD FORMAL HERITAGE PROTECTION The Benin Kingdom Earthworks are included on Nigeria’s UNESCO Tentative List. This is important, but it must be stated accurately: Tentative List status is not the same as UNESCO World Heritage inscription. \u1eb8domaye therefore supports serious continued work toward: OUR PRESERVATION PLEDGE We will document what remains. We will record what our elders remember. We will preserve Edo-language testimony. We will distinguish tradition from archaeological evidence. We will acknowledge uncertainty where evidence is incomplete. We will document destruction rather than allow it to disappear without a record. We will educate our children. We will work with communities and qualified heritage professionals. We will advocate for serious conservation. We will preserve the Iya for generations yet unborn. THE IYA ARE NOT JUST EARTH. THEY ARE HISTORY. THEY ARE ENGINEERING. THEY ARE MEMORY. THEY ARE HERITAGE. AND WHAT REMAINS MUST BE PROTECTED NOW. A CALL TO ACTION If you are a community elder, historian, archaeologist, researcher, student, photographer, heritage worker or resident with knowledge, photographs, documents or oral history relating to the Benin Iya, \u1eb8domaye welcomes responsible collaboration and documentation efforts. Let us record what remains. Let us preserve what our ancestors left behind. Let us teach the next generation. Let us ensure that the story of the Iya does not disappear with the earthworks themselves. \u1eb8DOMAYE Preserving Culture & Empowering Education WE ARE IN BENIN LET THE LEOPARD ROAR AS LOUD AS IT CAN EVER BE. SOURCES AND HISTORICAL NOTE This article<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edomaye.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}WHY PRESERVATION MUST BEGIN NOW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
OUR HISTORICAL PRINCIPLE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THE PRESERVATION CHALLENGE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
WE MUST DOCUMENT NOW.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
THE \u1eb8DOMAYE IYA HERITAGE ARCHIVE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
DOCUMENT THE ELDERS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOCUMENT WHAT HAS ALREADY DISAPPEARED<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CREATE THE \u1eb8DOMAYE IYA MAP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
COMMUNITY MUST BE AT THE CENTRE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
WE MUST NOT DAMAGE THE EVIDENCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
WORK TOWARD FORMAL HERITAGE PROTECTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
OUR PRESERVATION PLEDGE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THE IYA ARE NOT JUST EARTH.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
THEY ARE HISTORY.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THEY ARE ENGINEERING.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THEY ARE MEMORY.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THEY ARE HERITAGE.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AND WHAT REMAINS MUST BE PROTECTED NOW.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA CALL TO ACTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u1eb8DOMAYE<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSOURCES AND HISTORICAL NOTE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n