The Lukenya ware: a definition

Abstract

The primary goals of this study were to define Lukenya Pottery, to determine its spread in time and space and its relationship to other Pastoral Neolithic (PN)wares found in East Atrica. This paper is based on the analysis of ceramic assemblages from six Pastoral Neolithic (Pf\l) sites at Lukenya Hill, Machakos District, Kenya. The definition rests on stylistic, technologica! and attribute analysis of sherds and vessels. The research involved a series of archaeological field surveys in the Atru-Kapif plains, test pit excavations in two of the Pastoral Neolithic sites found in Lukenya Hills and a systematic laboratory analysis of ceramic assemblages recovered during excavation. Lukenya Hill Pottery is compared with Late PN ceramic assemblage from the Elimenteita Ware (which is found in Central Rift Valley). Lukenya Hill Pottery was in use from 2,400 to 1,600 BP and has a wide distribution on the west side of the Rift Valley. !t has been demonstrated that Lukenya Hill pottery variant. (if the wide Elimenteita Ware which occupies the west side of the Rift Valley. Key words: Lukenya Hill Pottery, Pastoral Neolithic, Ceramic analysis variant, ware and East Africa.