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Site Reconnaissance in the Kipsing and Tol River Watersheds of Central Kenya: Implications for Middle and Later Stone Age Land-Use Patterns

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Abstract

Two seasons of archaeological site reconnaissance and geo-archaeological fieldwork in the Kipsing and Tol river valleys of central Kenya have resulted in (1) the location of 58 surface sites and 13 spot finds and (2) the excavation and dating of 11 alluvial stratigraphic profiles. These data are incorporated with our previous work in the study area to yield a preliminary interpretation of Middle and Later Stone Age tool technologies and land-use strategies during the Late Pleistocene period there. Specifically, the nature of the lithic inventories and observed distribution of archaeological sites suggests that people in the Middle Stone Age employed a “patch choice” resource and land-use strategy while those in the subsequent Later Stone Age period utilized a “logistical” strategy.

Pendant deux saisons de la reconnaissance archéologique d'emplacement et des travaux sur le terrain geo-archéologiques les vallées dans de Kipsing et de Tol fleuve du Kenya central ont eu comme conséquence (1) l'endroit de 58 emplacements extérieurs et 13 trouvailles de tache et (2) l'excavation et dater 11 profils stratigraphiques alluviaux. Ces données sont incorporées avec nos travaux précédents dans le secteur d'étude pour rapporter une interprétation préliminaire de milieu et de stratégies postérieures d'utilisation de la terre de technologies d'outil de âge de pierre pendant la période pléistocène en retard là. Spécifiquement, la nature des inventaire lithic et la distribution observée des emplacements archéologiques suggère que les gens dans le âge de pierre moyen aient utilisé un “choix de morceau” (“patch choice”) stratégie de ressource et d'utilisation du territoire, alors que ceux dans la période postérieure suivante de âge de pierre utilisaient un “logistique” stratégie.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

    D. Bruce Dickson

  2. Department of General Academics, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA

    Frederic B. Pearl

  3. Department of Cultural Anthropology, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Republic of Korea

    G.-Young Gang

  4. Archaeology Division, National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

    Samuel Kahinju

  5. Institute of African Studies, Nairobi, Kenya

    Simiyu Wandibba

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Dickson, D.B., Pearl, F.B., Gang, GY. et al. Site Reconnaissance in the Kipsing and Tol River Watersheds of Central Kenya: Implications for Middle and Later Stone Age Land-Use Patterns. African Archaeological Review 21, 153–191 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AARR.0000045828.80183.ea

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