Demonstrates that the pre-Islamic Sahara was a more connected region than previously thought, with trade an essential linking element.

Preface D. J. Mattingly; 1. The Garamantes and the origins of Saharan trade: state of the field and future agendas D. J. Mattingly; Part I. Connectivity and Networks: 2. The invisible pastoralists: camel-herding, raiding, and Saharan trade and settlement Judith Scheele; 3. What made Islamic trade distinctive, as compared to pre-Islamic trade? Anne Haour; 4. The Trans-Saharan trade connection with Gao during the first millennium AD Mamadou Cissé; 5. Ships of the desert, camels of the ocean: Indian ocean perspectives on Trans-Saharan trade Mark Horton, Alison Crowther and Nicole Boivin; 6. The economies and cultures of the Trans-Saharan gold trade from pre-Islamic times to the modern era Sam Nixon; 7. Saharan exports to the Roman world Andrew Wilson; Part II. Trade in Organic Materials: 8. Early Saharan trade: the organic evidence D. J. Mattingly and Franca Cole; 9. Textiles and textile trade in the first millennium AD: evidence from Egypt Lise Bender Jørgensen; 10. Circulation and trade of textiles at the southern borders of Roman Africa Stéphanie Guédon; Part III. Trade in Inorganic Materials: 11. Early Saharan trade: the inorganic evidence V. Leitch, C. N. Duckworth, A. Cuénod, D. J. Mattingly, M. Sterry and F. Cole; 12. Can we speak of pottery and amphora 'import substitution' in inland regions of Roman Africa? Michael Bonifay; 13. Pottery and trade in North Africa and the Sub-Sahara Anna Leone; 14. Track and trace: archaeometric approaches to the study of early Trans-Sahara trade Sonja Magnavita; 15. Glass beads in Trans-Saharan trade Laure Dussubieux; 16. Concluding discussion D. J. Mattingly, V. Leitch, C. N. Duckworth, A. Cuénod and M. Sterry.