The Houlouf Research Project involved two complementary components: archaeological and ethnoarchaeological. The ethnoarchaeological part focused on the study of Shuwa-Arab settlements, their history and site location strategies. The archaeological project aims to investigate the emergence of complex and ranked societies in the Chadian plain. Fourteen mound sites were tested in a 400 sq. km study area, disclosing a settlement sequence some 4,000 years long, from ca. 2000 BC to the present, with shifting spatial location of sites through time. Prestige goods in semi-precious stone such as amazonite and carnelian, and artifacts made from imported alloyed copper, appear to have been used in subtle and persistent strategies of distinction. A class of mounted Warriors emerged around AD 1200 in the context of competing sub-regional centers. Houlouf rose to regional primacy at the end of Ble phase [AD 1200-1400] up to Houlouf phase A [AD 1400-1600]. It was conquered later by a stronger competitor from the southeast, and became part of the Lagwan Kingdom from ca. AD 1600 to the Colonial Period.     Sample of alloyed copper artifacts from Houlouf dating from ca. AD 1200 to 1500. It includes six leg-guards used by horsemen, two pairs of spurs, one torque, and an assortment of arm-rings.         Items of personal adornment of the horseman from Burial 75 – Occupation Horizon VI, Houlouf - dated to AD 1270 – 1450. They are distributed into a pair of alloyed copper spurs, a series of waist beads in carnelian and blue glass, a necklace with long facetted carnelian beads, a series of alloyed copper arm-rings.