ancient African culture
The name Nok was given to the culture of a group of people who lived in what are now the northern and central partos of Nigeria, in the area north of the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, from the fourth century B.C.E to the second century C.E. Remains of this culture were first discovered in the area of the Jos Plateau, and similar artifacts have been found in the middle valley of the Benue River.
The Nok were also the earliest people yet known in this part of Africa who made tools and weapons from iron. They also produced fine sculptures, usually of human forms, from terra-cotta (baked clay). These magnificent pottery heads and figures are the earliest known African sculptures. It is believed that the Nok had a well-organized economy, and administrative system, and that their culture influenced later peoples of the region.