Douroula

Place in Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Faso
12°35′N 3°18′W / 12.583°N 3.300°W / 12.583; -3.300Country Burkina FasoRegionBoucle du MouhounProvinceMouhoun ProvinceDepartmentDouroula DepartmentPopulation
 (2005)
 • Total3,471Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT 0)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official nameAncient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina FasoCriteriaCultural: (iii), (iv), (vi)Designated2019 (43rd session)Reference no.1602RegionAfrica

Douroula is a town in Burkina Faso. It is the county seat of Douroula Department in the province Mouhoun.

Near the town are ruins of a smelting furnace and evidence of ferrous metallurgy dating back to the 8th century BC. This is the oldest confirmed metallurgy site in Burkina Faso discovered to date.[1] Because of this, on 5 July 2019, Douroula was inscribed along with other ancient metallurgy complexes Tiwêga, Yamané, Kindibo and Békuy on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso". UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Five sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO. 5 July 2019.