History of West Africa more states. Early human settlers arrived in West Africa around 12,000 BCE. In the fifth millennium, as the ancestors of modern West Africans began entering the area, the development of sedentary farming began to take place in West Africa. The Iron industry, in both smelting and forging for tools and weapons, appeared in Sub-Saharan Africa by 1200 BCE, and by 400 BCE, contact had been made with the Mediterranean civilizations, and a regular trade included exporting gold, cotton, metal, and leather in exchange for copper, horses, salt, textiles, and beads. Culture developed further with the Nok culture (1000 BCE to
Early history of Nigeria casting techniques such as the lost-wax (cire perdue) process for tools and weaponry are some of first-known applications of the craft. Sculptures found throughout Southwestern Nigeria indicate that the Nok Culture was a hub for art of a world renowned caliber. Information is lacking from the first millennium BC following the Nok ascendancy, but by the 2nd millenniumBC there was active trade from Ancient Egypt via Nubia through the Sahara to the forest with the savanna people acting as intermediaries in exchanges of various goods. Early history of Nigeria Early Nigerian history relates to the period of history in Nigeria