Abstract
This paper reports on the archaeological investigation conducted at Edem-Ani in late 2021 as part of the field school training programme for the undergraduate students of the Department of Archaeology and Tourism, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The aim of the field exercise was to teach students the rudiments of archaeological fieldwork with a focus on understanding the history of the study area through its material culture remains. The field exercise employed a three-pronged strategy for data collection: oral interview, survey and excavation. Oral historic information from the interviews conducted indicated the existence of hidden treasure in the area whose location is unknown. Interrogating this claim with the use of survey and excavation proved abortive due to several limitations. Yet, the importance of archaeology in understanding and complementing historic information cannot be undermined. Unearthed material remains which include potsherds, iron slags and palm kernels suggest a trade network with neighbouring communities such as iron working in the region and exploitation of the oil palm.
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