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Benjamin Warinsie Kankpeyeng

Benjamin Warinsie Kankpeyeng
Education: 
B.A (Ghana); MA, PhD (Syracuse)
Associate Professor
bwkankpeyeng@ug.edu.gh

 

EDUCATION

  • 2003 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Anthropology, Syracuse University, USA.
  • 1996 Master of Arts (MA) degree in Anthropology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, USA.
  • 1981 Bachelor of Arts (BA) Hons. degree in History with Philosophy, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

 

CURRENT RESEARCH:

  • Archaeology of Kpaliworgu, Upper West Region, Ghana.  Since 1997.
  • Archaeology of Slave Trade Sites in Northern Ghana. Since 1998.
  • Archaeology of Tongo Hills, Ghana (In collaboration with Prof. Timothy Insoll and Dr. Rachel
  • MacLean of University of Manchester, UK. From 2004 to 2009.
  • Koma Land Archaeological Research Project, northern Ghana. A Partnership with Mr. Samuel Nkumbaan of the University of Ghana. June 2006 to Present.  (Also with Dr. Natalie Swanepoel of the University of South Africa, Prof. Timothy Insoll of the University of Manchester,in 2010 and 2011 ). 
  • Archaeology of Boabeng-Fiema, Brong Ahafo Region,   Since 2014 (with Mr. Siaw Appiah-Adu, University of Ghana).

 

PUBLICATIONS

Edited Book
Insoll, T., MacLean, R. and Kankpeyeng, B, (eds.). 2013. Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, 2004-2009, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10.  Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Anquandah, J., Kankpeyeng, B. and Apoh. W, (eds.).  2014. “Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana”. University of Ghana Readers’, Social Science Series, Vol. 6. Accra: Sub- Saharan Publishers.

Book/Monograph Chapters.
Anquandah, James, Kankpeyeng, B. and Apoh. W.  2014. Archaeology of Ghana: An Introduction. In, Anquandah, James, Kankpeyeng, B. and Apoh. W. (eds.),  “Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana”.  University of Ghana Readers, Social Science Series, pp. 1 – 17. Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Eyifa-Dzidzienyo, G.A.M and Kankpeyeng, B.W. 2014. Gender in Archaeology. A Ghanaian
Perspective. In, Anquandah, James, Kankpeyeng, B. and Apoh. W. (eds.), “Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana”. University of Ghana Readers, Social Science Series , pp.110 – 122.  Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Insoll, T. and  Kankpeyeng, B.W. 2014. Archaeology of Rituals and Religion in Northern Ghana. In, Anquandah, James, Kankpeyeng, B. and Apoh. W. (eds.),  “Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana”. University of Ghana Readers, Social Science Series, pp.244 – 262.  Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Insoll, Timothy and Kankpeyeng, B. W. 2014. Reconstructing the Archaeology of Movement in
Northern Ghana. Insights into Past Ritual and Performance? In, Ogundiran and Saunders (eds.), Materialities, Meanings and Modernities of Rituals in Black Atlantic, pp. 28 – 46. Bloomington: Indiana University Press
Insoll, T., MacLean, R. and Kankpeyeng, B. 2013. Introduction. In, Insoll, T., MacLean, R., and
Kankpeyeng, B. W. (eds.), Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10, pp. 13 – 24.  Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Insoll, T., MacLean, R. and Kankpeyeng, B. 2013. The Survey-Shrines. In, Insoll, T., MacLean, R., and Kankpeyeng, B. W. (eds.), Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10, pp. 54 – 91. Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Insoll, T., MacLean, R. Ashley, C. and Kankpeyeng, B. 2013. The Pottery. In, Insoll, T., MacLean, R., and Kankpeyeng, B. W. (eds.), Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10, pp. 120 – 133. Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Kankpeyeng, B., Eyifa, G. A. M., Insoll ,T., and MacLean, R. 2013. Heritage Management in Tengzug. Conceptions and Challenges. In, Insoll, T., MacLean, R., and Kankpeyeng, B. W. (eds.), Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10, pp. 209 – 216. Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Insoll, T., MacLean, R. and Kankpeyeng, B. 2013. Conclusions – Temporalising Anthropology? In,
Insoll, T., MacLean, R., and Kankpeyeng, B. W. (eds.), Temporalising Anthropology. Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series, Volume 10, pp. 217 – 223. Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

Insoll, T., Kankpeyeng, B and Nkumbaan, N., 2012. Fragmentary Ancestors? Representing Bodies and Persons in a Koma Mound. In, Rountree, K. E., Morris, C., and Peatfield, A. (eds.), The Archaeology of Spiritualites, One World Archaeology Series, pp. 25-45.. New York: Springer.

Insoll, T., Kankpeyeng, B. and MacLean, R. 2009. The Archaeology of Shrines among the Tallensi of Northern Ghana: Materiality and Interpretive Relevance. In Dawson, Allan Charles (ed.), Shrines in Africa:History, Politics and Society, pp. 41-70. University of  Calgary Press, Calgary.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W. and Nkumbaan, Samuel, 2009. Ancient Shrines? New Insights on the Koma Mounds, Northern Ghana. In, S. Magnavita, L. Koté, P. Breunig, and O. A. Idé (eds.),Crossroads/Carrefour Sahel Cultural and Technological Developments in First Millennium BC/AD West Africa, Journal of African Archaeology Monograph Series Volume 2, pp. 193-202. Africa Magna Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Frankfurt.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W. and Nkumbaan, Samuel, 2008. Rethinking the Stone Circles  of Komaland. A Preliminary Report on the 2007/2008 Fieldwork at Yikpabongo, Northern Region, Ghana. In Timothy Insoll, (ed.), Current Archaeological Research in Ghana, Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology, BAR International Series 1847, pp 95- 102. Archaeopress, Oxford, England.

Published Research Work in Journals
Tiburu, E. K., Kankpeyeng, B. W., Nkumbaan, Samuel N., Salifu, Ali A., and Zhuang, Jianqin (2017). Novel Nanocrystal Clay Materials with Potential Bone Cells Growth Enhancement or Inhibition Characteristics In Vitro. Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering 30: 45-60.

Robinson, Heather A., Insoll, Timothy., Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W., Brown, Keri A., Brown, Terence A. (2017). Ancient DNA analysis of pre-colonial terracotta items from Northern Ghana supports ritual complexity in a past community. Journal of Archaeological Science 79:10-18.

Insoll, Timothy, Kankpeyeng, Benjamin and Fraser, Sharon. (2016). Internal Meanings: Computed Tomography Scanning of Koma Figurines from Ghana. African Arts 49: 24-32.

Kankpeyeng, B., Swanepoel, N., Insoll, T., Nkumbaan, S., Amartey, S., Saako, M. (2013). Insights into Past Ritual Practice at Yikpabongo, Northern Region, Ghana. African Archaeological Review 30: 475-499.

Insoll, T., MacLean, R., Ashley, C., and Kankpeyeng, B. W., (2011). The Iron Age ceramics from the Tong Hills, Northern Ghana. Sequence and Comparative Perspectives. Journal of African Archaeology 9 (1):15-39.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin., Nkumbaan, Samuel. And Insoll, Timothy., (2011). Indigenous Cosmology, Art Forms and Past Medicinal Practices: Towards an Interpretation of Ancient Koma Land Sites in Northern Ghana. Anthropology and Medicine 18 (2):205-216.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W, Insoll, Timothy and MacLean Rachel (2010). Identities and Archaeological Heritage Preservation at the Crossroads: Understanding the Challenges of Economic Development at Tengzug, Upper East Region, Ghana. Ghana Social Science Journal 8: 90-105.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W. (2009). The Slave Trade in Northern Ghana: Landmarks, Legacies and
Connections. Slavery and Abolition 30 (2), pp. 209-221.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W, Insoll, Timothy and MacLean Rachel, (2009). The Tension between
Communities, Development and Archaeological Heritage Preservation. The Case Study of Tengzug Cultural Landscape, Ghana. Heritage Management 2 (2): 177-197.

Kankpeyeng,Benjamin Warinsie 2005. The Cultural Landscape of Tongo-Tengzuk: Traditional
Conservation Practices. In Joffroy, Thiery (ed.), Traditional Conservation Practices in Africa. ICCROM Conservation Studies 2: 15-21.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W and DeCorse, Christopher R. 2004.Ghana’s Vanishing Past: Antiquities, Development and the Destruction of the Archaeological Record. African Archaeological Review 21 (2): 89-128

Creative Work (Documented)
Insoll, T., Kankpeyeng, B., Nkumbaan, S. and Saako, M. 2013. Fragmentary Ancestors. Figurines from Koma Land. Manchester: Manchester Museum

 

Working Papers
Insoll, Timothy and Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W. 2010. Archaeology in Komaland and the Koma Figurines. The 153Club Newsletter, pp. 9-12.

Insoll, Timothy, MacLean Rachel, and Kankpeyeng, Benjamin (2008). Excavations and Surveys In the Tongo Hills, Upper East Region and Birifor, Upper West Region, Ghana. March – April 2008. A preliminary Fieldwork Report. Nyame Akuma: Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists 69:11-22.

Insoll, T., Kankpeyeng, B. and MacLean R. (2007/2008). Shrines, Rituals and Archaeology: Archaeology of the Tallensi, Northern Ghana. Current World Archaeology 26:29-36.

Insoll, T. Kankpeyeng, B. and MacLean, R. 2007. Excavations and Surveys in the Tongo Hills, Upper East Region, Ghana, July 2006: A Preliminary Fieldwork Report. Nyame Akuma: Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists 67: 44-59.

Insoll, Timothy, Kankpeyeng, Benjamin and MacLean, Rachel 2005. Fieldwork at Tongo-
Tengzug.  Nyame Akuma: Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists  64: 16-23.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin W. 2004. Fieldwork at Kpaliworgu, Northern Ghana: 1997 to 1999. Nyame Akuma: Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists 62: 34-41.

Insoll, Timothy, Kankpeyeng, Benjamin and MacLean, Rachel 2004. Archaeological Reconnaissance in the Tong Hills and Garu Area, Upper East Region and Nakpanduri, Northern Region, Ghana. Nyame Akuma: Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists 62: 25-33.

 

ACADEMIC REPORTS

Field Reports
Kankpeyeng, Benjamin, 2011. Archaeological Field Research in Yikpabongo, Koma Land, Northern Region, Ghana, January 2011. Report Submitted to the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

Kankpeyeng, Benjamin, 2010. Yikpabongo Archaeological Field School/Research, January 2010. Report Submitted to Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
Boachie-Ansah, J., Bredwa-Mensah,Y., Kankpeyeng, B., Nkumbaan, S., and Murey, B. 2010. Reconnaissance on Potential Impacts on Physical Cultural Resources (PCR). Baseline Archaeological Technical Report on Cultural Resources along Buipe-Tamale Road Corridor. Report Submitted to the Ghana Highways Authority, Accra.