Ntusi (man-made mounds and Basin)
UgandaDepartment of Antiquities and Museums
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Description
There are three archaeological features within the Ntusi village which deserve recognition and preservation. These are the two man-made mounds which are locally known as Ntusi male (NTIV) and Ntusi female (NT III) (in the plan attached) and the basin also known as Bwogero. Although most other features have been disturbed by human habitation, Ntusi village of a 1 km square, is another unique example of an island of heavy archaeological depositions of Later Iron Age surrounded by a very wide expanse of barren rolling grassland of up to 16 km which is the distance between Ntusi and Bigo bya Mugyenyi. In the traditions, Bigo and Ntusi are related, both being associated with the legendary Bacwezi rulers but archaeologiacally Ntusi is two centuries older than Bigo.
Archaeological excavations which have been carried out at both the Ntusi mounds have shown 4-metre depositions from their bases to the apexes of bone and pottery mixed with stones and ash. Throughout the village there are pottery scatters and bone. At site NT VI, large pots were excavated which suggested that underground storage of food stuffs was practised.