Economy and subsistence of iron age Sirikwa culture at Hyrax hill, Nakuru: a zooarchaeological approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to define the subsistence patterns associated with a Pastoral Iron Age culture referred to as the Sirikwa. Traces of this culture are found in archaeological sites in the central rift valley of Kenya and the region west of the rift from Kisii District in the south to the Mt. Elgon in the north. On the basis of radiocarbon dates, Sirikwa Culture is presently known to span from the 12th Century A.D. to around the 18th/19th centuries A.D. Its origins can, however be stretched as far back as the 7th Century A.D. Apart from subsistence reconstruction, the study goes on to establish a consensus on Sirikwa site formation processes, site functions, settlement patterns, culture span and spatial distr ibution, origins, development and destiny. An attempt to standardize attributes that characterize the Sirikwa culture is also made. This is based on the archaeological record. Systematic excavations were undertaken in one of the Sirikwa sites at Hyrax Hill, Nakuru. These were in two field sessions dur ing the second half of 1990. In total, six pits of various dimensions and covering 70 square metres were dug to an average depth of 1.5 metres. The excavated portion represents about five percent of the whole site area. The excavations recovered archaeological materials in the form of artifacts, flora and fauna. These include pot shards, stone implements, stone vessel fragments, pollen grains, carbonized plant nuts and animal bones. All specimens are presently deposited at the Kenya National Museums, Archaeology Division, accession number KNM 3982. Cultural remains in the form of features (structural remains and hearths) were also revealed. This study is problem oriented and emphasis is placed on the analysis of the faunal remains. In order to address all the objectives, data had to be contrasted and compared and therefore supplemented in various ways by information from past Sirikwa site excavations at Hyrax Hill itself and elsewhere. The research shows that pastoralism was the mainstay of the Sirikwa economy. The evidence indicates that the people maintained domestic livestock primarily for herd growth and secondarily for food. Cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and dogs were kept. Hunting and/or scavenging of wild animal products was practised at a minimal scale, while wild nuts, seeds, etc. may have been utilized. The Sirikwa people had access to iron technology, and iron implements were utilized especially in the slaughtering, butchering and disarticulation of animal carcasses. Large cattle ribs were used for scrapping gritty surfaces, probably hut roofs and walls. They also made use of pottery cooking vessels. It is felt that further research on Sirikwa is necessary to unfold all the cultural aspects. Detailed analysis on recovered stone implements, pottery shards and plant remains from Hyrax Hill are yet to be finalized. It is hoped that the data will contribute to the understand ing of the Sir ikwa. The thesis is comprised of eight chapters, with Chapter One introducing the project. Chapter Two presents a review of Sirikwa research prior to the year 1990, identifies research gaps and sets up working hypotheses. An introduction of the research area, Hyrax Hill, is also presented. Chapter Three reports the 1990 excavations, while Chapter Four reviews the technical aspects that constitute the analysis of archaeological faunal remains. Both Chapter Five and six presents the faunal data. Attributes considered include element and taxon representation, sex, age and size structures, bone weathering, bone fragmentation, cultural and animal bone modifications. These attributes are discussed and interpreted in Chapter Seven. Ethnoarchaeological models for inference are derived from modern East African pastoralist communities. Chapter Eight offers the research summary and conclusions and perspectives for further research.