Abstract
A synthesis of archaeological research in and around the Kongo kingdom is outlined. It is shown that publications dealing with the Late Iron Age are few in number for a time segment which saw the birth and development of such social complexity as the Kongo kingdom. A general picture of Late Iron Age ceramic groups in Lower-Congo is drawn. One of the ceramic Groups, Group II, dated to AD 1400–1800, is thoroughly discussed. The ceramic style, dates, spatial analysis and regional context are dealt with. This paper partly helps to fill a major gap in Kongo ceramics studies and outlines future research trends. The formal methodologies developed over past decades for the analysis of ceramics are sadly not much used in Central Africa. The systemic approach permits one to at last describe thoroughly the ornamental style which is a prerequisite to being able to ascribe a particular ware or a particular site to a ceramic Tradition or Group. One key synthetic result is that the old Group II is now redefined as the Mbafu Tradition.
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