Kenya’s Great Rift Valley has long been dubbed the cradle of mankind, but recent discoveries on the shores of Lake Bogoria suggest it may also be home to innovation and industrialisation.
Ancient stone tools discovered in the region and believed to be between 350,000 to a million years old have not only cemented Baringo County’s place on the global archaeological map but also attracted interest from researchers based at local and international institutions of higher learning.
The discovery comes after the scientists embarked on fieldwork supported by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the Henan Academy of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and the Luoyang Institute of Archaeology, where they established that both technological and biological evolution in this high-elevation locality took place. The latter two institutions are based in China.
The project, which is being jointly funded by the Henan Academy of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Luoyang Institute of Archaeology to the tune of Sh12 million per year (US$80,000), also supports the training of Kenyan researchers.
The haul of over 800 picks, flakes, and hand axes have so far been found on the shores of Lake Bogoria.
According to Head of Earth Sciences at the NMK, Dr. Emmanuel Ndiema, the field survey is helping researchers collect rock samples, which will tell what archaeological culture was represented, the exact age of the tools, and if possible, look for any fossils to determine the ancestors who made and used the tools.
The director of the project is the Vice President of the Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Professor Wei Xingtao, deputised by Dr. Ndiema.
Dr. Ndiema indicated that for those specimens that must be analysed, tested, and identified in China or other countries, the NMK shall submit in advance documentation to the relevant departments for approval in accordance with the relevant regulations of Kenya, adding that once testing in China or other countries is complete, all the specimens will be returned to Kenya.
The palaeontologist explained that the tools were an indication of more sophisticated stone tool-making techniques probably developed by ancestors of modern human beings and that this could add more knowledge to the concept of man’s technological evolution.
“These findings include stone flakes sheared off larger rocks, which were most likely used for cutting and sharpening. The discovery suggests that there could be older human technological advancements yet to be discovered,” added Dr. Ndiema.
The excavations, which started three years ago, according to the palaeontologist, offered a new look at how early hominids used the landscape and how they responded to environmental changes.
Baringo County is also home to the fossil of the world’s second-oldest human, Orrorin Tugenensis, dubbed ‘Millennium Man’, which dates back about 6.2 million years.
The landmark discovery of the fossil in the Tugen Hills in Baringo made world headlines 20 years ago.
Other famous sites where hand tools have been excavated in the Rift Valley include the Kariandusi Prehistoric Site in Elementaita, Olorgesailie near Lake Magadi, Hyrax Hill in Nakuru, and Koobi Fora in Turkana.
While indicating that 30 new sites had been mapped out for excavations in Baringo County, Dr. Ndiema stated that the archaeological discoveries were a boost to the devolved unit that is gearing to attain a top position on the global educational, scientific, and cultural map by hosting the country’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geopark.
A UNESCO Global Geopark consists of a clearly mapped-out area containing unique sites and landscapes of international geological significance, such as caves, museums, lakes, hot springs, hills, and escarpments.
“It is generally a model geological paradise. Within a geopark are geo-sites—sites with features that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” said Dr. Ndiema.
The new status for Baringo, said the palaeontologist, would give it more international limelight and draw in more visitors.
It will also open up areas and features that were previously less explored for educational purposes and protection. If approved, Kenya will join Tanzania and Morocco in Africa as the only countries hosting a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Dr. Rebecca Muriuki from NMK’s Department of Earth Sciences observed that excavation of the hand tools is expected to be a boon for the region’s tourist potential.
“It means an injection of fresh ideas into Kenya’s tourism diversification. It will also elevate the excavation sites to global limelight while improving livelihoods and opportunities for local communities that can tap into new opportunities,” said Dr. Muriuki.
The new status, she added, would also open up the region to billions of shillings in investments.
Dr. Muriuki stated that the discoveries have helped researchers understand other aspects of how early humans lived, such as their technological advances, how they sustained themselves, and how they related to their environment.
Mr. Julius Marti, one of the archaeologists working on the project, stated that it was important to visit these sites.
Here, he added, one gets to learn about stone tools, volcanic activities in the Rift Valley, and even the history of the Rift Valley’s lakes, believed to have occupied larger parts of the region.
According to Mr. Marti, the makers of the tools likely utilised the lower-lying areas in the Rift Valley during favourable climates but shifted to the highlands during dryer conditions.
He said the technology upgrade required skills and was associated with an expansion of intelligence.
By Anne Mwale
