The 8,000 year-old Dafuna canoe discovered in Yobe State is the oldest of its kind in Africa and the third in the world.
This was made known by Hajia Aisha Jidda, a curator at the National Museum, Maiduguri, who also called for more research on the canoe.
The need for more research, she said, was to allow for more discoveries.
Speaking on the age of the canoe, she said it was found out through radio-carbon dating by two reputable universities in Germany.
According to her, it was discovered that canoe was either 8, 100 or 7, 900 years old.
That makes it the oldest of its kind in Africa and the third in the world.
Her words: “It is the oldest boat; it is 8, 000 plus or minus a hundred years and this was done through radio-carbon dating by two reputable universities in Germany that is 8, 100 or 7, 900 years old. It is the oldest of its kind in Africa and the third in the world.
“You can imagine that if in Africa we can have something like this we need to preserve it.
“Professionals like engineers, botanists, geographers and specialists in other fields would able to carry out research on the technologies involved and look at the composition of the type of wood that the canoe was made of.
“You can imagine something beneath the ground to stay that long period of time without decay.”
Dufuna canoe was discovered in 1987 by a Fulani herdsman while digging a well at Dufuna Village in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Radiocarbon dating studies of sample of charcoal found near the site dates the canoe at between 8, 000 and 8, 500 years-old.
The studies also linked the site to Lake Chad.
It is the oldest boat to be discovered in Africa, and the third oldest in the world.
The antiquity is currently being preserved at the National Museum, Damaturu.
Jidda stressed that the study might lead to further discovery around the Lake Chad basin and provide more information about the people inhabiting the region.
Jidda decried the poor attitude of Nigerians to artefacts, cultural values and traditions, noting that comprehensive studies of the antiquities could provide solution to problems bedevilling the continent.
