The context of early megalithic architecture in eastern Africa: the Turkana Basin<i>c.</i>5000-4000 BP

Grillo, Katherine M.; Hildebrand, Elisabeth

doi:10.1080/0067270x.2013.789188

Cited by 35 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…5; Barthelme 1985;Marshall et al 1984). The construction of namoratunga ceased by this time (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013) and the Lake Turkana region's archaeological assemblages became diverse (Marshall et al 1984, p. 126). The archaeological culture of these first herders is called the Pastoral Neolithic (PN), comprised of Afro-Asiatic speakers who kept domesticated animals and produced and used microlithic tools as well as the aforementioned ceramics (Bower 1991;Bower and Nelson 1978;Bower et al 1977).…”

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The appearance of monumental mortuary features known as namoratunga appear to have no direct cultural precedent elsewhere in Africa, but are widely distributed across the Turkana Basin at the end of the EMH (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013;Hildebrand and Grillo 2012;Hildebrand et al 2011;Robbins 1978, 1979;Nelson 1995). Insomuch as archaeological traditions can show diachronic culture changes, these sites appear qualitatively distinct from their known antecedents.…”

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Found on both east and west sides of the lake, namoratunga are interpreted as the remains of a single cultural group attesting to the presence of well-developed transportation and exchange networks at this time (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013). Grillo and Hildebrand (2013) argue that namoratunga sites are associated with the first herders in the basin, but the seemingly rapid appearance of both domesticated animals and elaborate mortuary features may reflect a preservation bias against sites that predate them due to the transgression of the lake between 6,000 and 5,000 years BP. In light of the profound plunge in the level of the lake between 5,000 and 4,000 years BP, namoratunga may represent a cultural response to maintain social solidarity through an ecologically challenging circumstance.…”

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Insomuch as archaeological traditions can show diachronic culture changes, these sites appear qualitatively distinct from their known antecedents. Namoratunga are comprised of compound human burials of which many individuals possess ornamental grave goods made from ostrich eggshell and worked bone, semiprecious stones such as amazonite and carnelian, and ceramic zoomorphic figurines (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013;Hildebrand et al 2014). Found on both east and west sides of the lake, namoratunga are interpreted as the remains of a single cultural group attesting to the presence of well-developed transportation and exchange networks at this time (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013).…”

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Namoratunga are comprised of compound human burials of which many individuals possess ornamental grave goods made from ostrich eggshell and worked bone, semiprecious stones such as amazonite and carnelian, and ceramic zoomorphic figurines (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013;Hildebrand et al 2014). Found on both east and west sides of the lake, namoratunga are interpreted as the remains of a single cultural group attesting to the presence of well-developed transportation and exchange networks at this time (Grillo and Hildebrand 2013). Grillo and Hildebrand (2013) argue that namoratunga sites are associated with the first herders in the basin, but the seemingly rapid appearance of both domesticated animals and elaborate mortuary features may reflect a preservation bias against sites that predate them due to the transgression of the lake between 6,000 and 5,000 years BP.…”

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lakeside View: Sociocultural Responses to Changing Water Levels of Lake Turkana, Kenya

et al. 2015

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Throughout the Holocene, Lake Turkana has been subject to drastic changes in lake levels and the subsistence strategies people employ to survive in this hot and arid region. In this paper, we reconstruct the position of the lake during the Holocene within a paleoclimatic context. Atmospheric forcing mechanisms are discussed in order to contextualize the broader landscape changes occurring in eastern Africa over the last 12,000 years. The Holocene is divided into five primary phases according to changes in the strand-plain evolution, paleoclimate, and human subsistence strategies practiced within the basin. Early Holocene fishing settlements occurred adjacent to high and relatively stable lake levels. A period of high-magnitude oscillations in lake levels Afr Archaeol Rev (2015) ensued after 9,000 years BP and human settlements appear to have been located close to the margins of the lake. Aridification and a final regression in lake levels ensued after 5,000 years BP and human communities were generalized pastoralists-fishers-foragers. During the Late Holocene, lake levels may have dropped below their present position and subsistence strategies appear to have been flexible and occasionally specialized on animal pastoralism. Modern missionary and government outposts have encouraged the construction of permanent settlements in the region, which are heavily dependent on outside resources for their survival. Changes in the physical and cultural environments of the Lake Turkana region have been closely correlated, and understanding the relationship between the two variables remains a vital component of archaeological research.Résumé Tout l'Holocène, le lac Turkana a été soumis à des changements drastiques dans l'altitude des lacs et les stratégies de subsistance des gens utilisent pour survivre dans cette région chaude et aride. Dans cet article, nous reconstruisons la position du lac au cours de l'Holocène dans un contexte paléoclimatique. Mécanismes de forçage atmosphériques sont discutées afin de contextualiser les changements de paysage plus larges qui se produisent en Afrique orientale au cours des 12.000 dernières années. L'Holocène est divisé en cinq phases principales en fonction des changements dans l'évolution altitude du lac, paléoclimats et les stratégies de subsistance humains pratiqués dans le bassin. Premiers établissements de pêche de l'Holocène ont eu lieu à proximité d'altitude d'eau élevés et relativement stables. Une période d'oscillations de grande amplitude dans l'altitude du lac s'ensuit après 9000 années BP et les établissements humains semblent avoir été situé à proximité des marges sur le lac. Aridification et une régression finale du altitude des lacs s'ensuit après 5000 années BP et les communautés humaines sont généralisées éleveurs-pêcheurs-cueilleurs. Au cours de l'Holocène tardif, les altitudes des lacs pourraient avoir chuté en dessous de leur position actuelle et les stratégies de subsistance semblent avoir fait preuve de souplesse et de temps en temps spécialisé sur le pas...

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Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Archaeological Evidence Within the Context Of Regional Climamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lakeside View: Sociocultural Responses to Changing Water Levels of Lake Turkana, Kenya

et al. 2015

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Megaliths

Delvoye

2021

The Encyclopedia of Ancient History

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Often associated with the monumental structures of the European Neolithic, megalithic structures are in fact found on almost all the continents of the globe. Far from being an exception, Africa is home to a vast diversity of monuments built with these blocks of up to several tonnes in weight. They can be both included within structures or erected around them, in the form of standing stones. In Africa, megalithic structures have been documented since the sixth millennium bce roughly until the contemporary period. They are recorded from North Africa to Madagascar, and from the Atlantic shores of West Africa to the Sahara and the Horn of Africa. Therefore, they correspond to very diverse cultural contexts and a wide range of uses. In addition to the funerary function often observed, megalithic monuments may also have a commemorative role or stand as territorial markers. African megaliths can be apprehended through different sources, whether they refer to past or present societies. In fact, unlike other regions of the world, modern and contemporary megalithic traditions are attested in Africa. Archaeology thus finds a possibility to broaden its perspectives by initiating a dialogue with ethnographic data.

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East and Southern African Neolithic: Geography and Overview

Wright

2020

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology

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The context of early megalithic architecture in eastern Africa: the Turkana Basinc.5000-4000 BP

Cited by 35 publications

References 51 publications

Lakeside View: Sociocultural Responses to Changing Water Levels of Lake Turkana, Kenya

Lakeside View: Sociocultural Responses to Changing Water Levels of Lake Turkana, Kenya

Megaliths

East and Southern African Neolithic: Geography and Overview

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