The Lukenyan Industry: A Definition

Abstract

This work analyses lithic assemblages from five Pastoral Neolithic (PN) sites at Lukenya Hill, Machakos District. It defines a new archaeological industry for the PN in East Africa. The definition is based on typological, technological and attribute analysis of flaked stone artefacts. This industry (the Lukenyan Industry) is compared to with the Elmenteitan, the only other well defined archaeological industry for the PN. These two industries constitute an Industrial Complex. Chapter One is introduction where the basic concepts dealt with in the thesis have been introduced and discussed. A brief review of the literature from the earliest times of research in East African prehistory up to the point where the term Pastoral Neolithic was introduced has been given. Then a definition of the term itself is given and a discussion of the problem addressed in the thesis follows. It is also in this chapter that the methodology used in the study is presented. Finally, a definition of terms and technical concepts is given at the end of the chapter. In Chapter Two, the field survey carried out in the Athi-Kapiti Plains is reported. The chapter starts by reviewing the models-which informed the hypotheses tested in the field survey, Then the sampling strategy used to choose the areas surveyed is reviewed. This is followed by a presentation of survey results by area, after which a discussion of the implication of the results follows and various speculations are offered. Finally, suggestions for the survey work are made. Chapter Three gives a description of the sites which have been studied for the thesis. It starts by giving the environmental setting of Lukenya Hill. This is followed by review of the sampling strategy used in the excavation of the sites. A description of each site paying attention to site layout, size, stratigraphy and where applicable, the date of the site is presented. Chapter Four presents the descriptive analysis of the artefacts. Here, a scope of analysis, typological system used, definition of tool types and reduction sequence are discussed. In Chapter Five, a comparison of Lukenya Industry with the Elmenteitan Industry of the southwest Kenya paying attention to the similarities in the topology, technology and tool sizes is made leading to the conclusion that the two industries are similar. It was concluded that these two industries are similar and we suggested that they constitute an Industrial Complex.