The Nok culture of Northern Nigeria is famous for its highly stylized terracotta sculptures, which are the oldest known figurative sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa. These figures often depict humans with large, almond-shaped eyes and elaborate hairstyles, indicating a complex social and religious structure. More importantly, the Nok were among the earliest societies in West Africa to transition directly from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, bypassing the Bronze Age entirely. Evidence of iron-smelting furnaces dating back to 500 BCE shows that they had mastered the high-temperature technology required to extract iron from ore independently of outside influence. This technological leap allowed for better farming tools and weapons, facilitating the expansion of populations in the region. The Nok culture vanished around 200 CE for unknown reasons, but their artistic and technological legacy influenced later West African civilizations like the Ife and Benin.