A quantitative analysis of the aspects of the size and shape variation of the East African stone bowls.

Abstract

This dissertation presents a Quantative study of some of the East African stone bowls. Objective included: (i) Examining the metric range of variation in bowl size and shape among the various stone bowl assemblages. (ii) Obtaining the measurements for height, depth, base thickness and drafting a summary of the metrical data. (iii) Discussing the major typological and metrical correlations which emerge from the study. (iv) Categorizing the stone bowls being analysed into anyone of the following categories, "Tall", "Squat" or "Flat". (vi) Assessing the cultural, temporal and geographical setting of the metrical patterning observed in the analysis. Description of prehistoric squence in which the stone bowls are found is provided. Analysis of the metrical attributes of the stone bowls are considered in detail. The following conclusions were reached; (a) That distinct clusters of bowls are associated with single sites. (b) Apart from the distinct clustering at the site level, there is also confidence clustering on an areal level. (c) That there is apparently no evidence for a particular savanna pastoral Neolithic bowl type, (d) That the distribution of the "Ngorongoro modal type bowl" to as far as Lukenya Hill is a probable additional evidence for widespread Neolithic cultural and/or exchange links in Southern Kenya.