A contribution to the study of the South Nyanza stone structures with special emphasis on architecture, distribution and the settlement history of the region.

Abstract

This study presents the architectural features of the South Nyanza stone structures, their distribution in our area of study and the sequence of settlement in this area.

The architecture of the structures has formed a large part of the study. Here, the aim has been to achieve an understanding of the architectural features exhibited by the structures. Eight sample sites were used to achieve this aim. The distribution established on the basis of the location of the structures, on the other hand, indicate that the builders constructed the structures on hilly areas which formed favourable sources of raw material. Meanwhile, on the sequence of settlement, it has been demonstrated that the region has been settled in succession by various groups of people since the "pre-historic" times.

Chapter one provides a general introduction, including

literature review and the aim of the

dissertation. Chapter two

gives a general background to the Nyanza region. It

presents a geophysical as well as a geological survey and the archaelogy of the region. On the other hand, Chapter three presents a brief settlement history of the region in a sequential order. Chapter four provides the methods of data collection while. Chapter Five provides the data and their analysis in a descriptive form. Lastly, Chapter six consists of a brief discussion and conclusions of this study.