The Thiemassassians were an ancient people belonging to the Serer people of Senegal and The Gambia in West Africa. They inhabited the Senegambia more than 12,000 years ago. Their ancient culture is referred to as the Thiemassassian Culture or in short, the Thiemassas Culture. Based on archaeological evidence and publication of Cyr Decamps (Prehistory in Senegal. Collection of documents , Senegalese Association of Teachers of History and Geography, 1982), they built ancient monumental megaliths of Senegambia. Most of these ancient people occupied the area of Thies now part of independence Senegal - hence their name. They founded the Casamance even the Gambia as they spread over the land. Their descendants were those that would later settle in Mbissel - in particular the old villages of Joal and Fadioth. In 1978, these ancient Serer towns and villages areas were excavated Descamps and his team and found numerous ancient artefacts including a golden pectoral dated much later in the 4th century of the Christian Era - based on the fashion the Serers used to wear and still do in their elaborative funeral rituals. Their consensus was, it was probably for a Serer King.
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