A contribution to the study of the neolithic in East Africa with particular reference to Nakuru-Naivasha basins

Abstract

This thesis presents a study of Neolithic sites in East Africa with special emphasis on sites located in the Nakuru, Elementeita, and Naivasha Basins. The study is based on material from museum collections, particularly the National Museums of Kenya, published data, and material recovered during excavations conducted by the writer as well as the University of Massachusetts team directed by C. M. Nelson. Because the thesis puts emphasis on every aspect of material culture of the East African Neolithic populations, special attention has been given to faunal, lithic, and ceramic assemblages, in addition to other ..- artifacts such as stone vessels, grindstones, ornaments, polished stone axeheads. The relationship among these ingredients of Neolithic economy is discussed. The typological framework for analysis of the various artifacts has been based largely on typologies previously applied by others. However, the author has introduced, or modified, typologies in order to suit the rather general nature of the study. Conclusions are as follows: 1. There is a definite Neolithic period, in the classic meaning --- of the term, in East Africa on the basis of the evidence given in this thesis. 2. The chronology points to a close contemporaneity with the Neolithic cultures in other parts of the Old World. 3. There are still gaps in our knowledge of sequential appearance of the ingredients of Neolithic cultures in East Africa. This. problem deserves further investigation. 4. The Quaternary faunal history of East Africa is still too incomplete to allow for a final solution of the important question of animal domestication in East Africa. The possibility remains open that domestication of plants and animals occurred independently in this part of Africa. 5. Care should be exercised in categorizing East Africa Neolithic races, particularly in view of the problems encountered in separating even the modern populations into racial categories