Exploring the Archaeological Assemblage of Butiru Iron Production Site in Eastern Uganda

This paper presents preliminary results from archaeological surveys of Butiru in eastern Uganda. It seeks to characterize the archaeological assemblage of Butiru, emphasizing the entire organization of iron production in the area. The research was guided by the following objectives that include: 1) To document the archaeological relics of Butiru, 2)To characterize the archaeological assemblage, and 3)To investigate the influence of iron production on society’s social and economic lives. The methods used for data collection included archaeological surveys and in-depth interviews. The results suggest that the Eastern part of Uganda has produced minimal evidence relating to Iron production. However, our preliminary survey in Butiru recorded sites and artifacts that provide abundant evidence of ancient iron production in this area. The tangible evidence is backed by narratives from the current inhabitants and contributes to some of the major cultural identity practices among the Bagisu, one of the dominant ethnic groups in Eastern Uganda.