Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahi... more Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahili maritime networks linked African port towns across the Indian Ocean seaboard, thus enabling merchandise to reach the hinterlands of the continent. One of these Swahili towns is the ancient city of Gedi, located on the central Kenyan coast near the medieval town of Malindi. Located inshore, 6 km from the main ocean to the southeast and 3 km from Mida Creek to the southwest, Gedi's lack of seaward connectivity has perplexed scholars. To effectively function within the vibrant Indian Ocean maritime trade networks of the 10th to 16th centuries CE, Gedi needed access to the sea. Inevitably goods had to be transported overland from a port or landing place. The 'MUCH to Discover in Mida Creek' project carried out an archaeological survey around the Creek to form a broader understanding of the region's maritime past. The study identified a range of sites that evidence past coastal activity. In particular, a concentration of contemporary house sites at Chafisi near the closest point on the Creek to Gedi would suggest it may have acted as an outport for the stone town.
Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahi... more Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahili maritime networks linked African port towns across the Indian Ocean seaboard, thus enabling merchandise to reach the hinterlands of the continent. One of these Swahili towns is the ancient city of Gedi, located on the central Kenyan coast near the medieval town of Malindi. Located inshore, 6 km from the main ocean to the southeast and 3 km from Mida Creek to the southwest, Gedi’s lack of seaward connectivity has perplexed scholars. To effectively function within the vibrant Indian Ocean maritime trade networks of the 10th to 16th centuries CE, Gedi needed access to the sea. Inevitably goods had to be transported overland from a port or landing place. The ‘MUCH to Discover in Mida Creek’ project carried out an archaeological survey around the Creek to form a broader understanding of the region’s maritime past. The study identified a range of sites that evidence past coastal activity. I...
The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in hum... more The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in human technological, cultural, and cognitive evolution. However, the majority of research on this transition is currently focused on southern Africa due to a lack of long-term, stratified sites across much of the African continent. Here, we report a 78,000-year-long archeological record from Panga ya Saidi, a cave in the humid coastal forest of Kenya. Following a shift in toolkits ~67,000 years ago, novel symbolic and technological behaviors assemble in a non-unilinear manner. Against a backdrop of a persistent tropical forest-grassland ecotone, localized innovations better characterize the Late Pleistocene of this part of East Africa than alternative emphases on dramatic revolutions or migrations.
Background: During Early Indian Ocean trade, many species of animals were transported along the r... more Background: During Early Indian Ocean trade, many species of animals were transported along the routes and destinations especially in eastern Africa. The influence of this historical trade on genetic relationships of historically popular pets such as domestic cats, in East African Coast and Persian Gulf has never been evaluated. Herein, we analyzed variation in mitochondrial DNA sequences from one African wildcat together with 59 feral and domestic cats from East African coastal-Lamu (EAC-Lamu) (n=41) and Iran (n=18) to evaluate possibility of exchange of these animals during the historical trade. Results: From this analysis, all ND5 & ND6 sequences of EAC-Lamu and Iranian cats can be assigned into one haplogroup. The haplotype sharing pattern between these two regions is detected in the network. The whole genome analyses reveal cats from EAC-Lamu and Iran cluster into one branch whereas other cat breeds cluster separately into other branches. The demographic history inference furth...
Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition... more Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition thus legally recognizing the value of underwater cultural heritage. This was after successful survey and excavation of the 17th Century Portuguese shipwreck, Santa Antonio De Tanna, in Mombasa. Kenya coast is part of the Western Indian Ocean; commonly referred to as the ‘Swahili coast’. This coast was a domain of foreigners from the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It was visited by the Greeks; controlled by the Arabs, Portuguese and the Europeans. In addition, it played a major role in ancient transoceanic maritime trade across the Indian Ocean Seaboard linking the Swahili Coast with the Arab world, India sub-continent, Far East and China, America and Europe. Owing to crude navigation and sea faring technologies of the time, there are on the seabed of Kenya traces of these interactions in the form of archaeological remains. Recent studies have shown that the Kenya coast is h...
The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in hum... more The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in human technological, cultural, and cognitive evolution. However, the majority of research on this transition is currently focused on southern Africa due to a lack of long-term, stratified sites across much of the African continent. Here, we report a 78,000-year-long archeological record from Panga ya Saidi, a cave in the humid coastal forest of Kenya. Following a shift in toolkits~67,000 years ago, novel symbolic and technological behaviors assemble in a non-unilinear manner. Against a backdrop of a persistent tropical forest-grassland ecotone, localized innovations better characterize the Late Pleistocene of this part of East Africa than alternative emphases on dramatic revolutions or migrations.
Since prehistoric times, people have used some kind of watercraft to cross rivers, seas and ocean... more Since prehistoric times, people have used some kind of watercraft to cross rivers, seas and oceans, reaching far-off places - and they most likely used stones as anchors. After several centuries, watercrafts changed dramatically, i.e., construction changed from log to plank, plank to hull and from wood to steel; rowing and sailing were replaced by mechanical power; and carrying capacity increased. Similarly, anchors changed from stone to wood, from lead to iron and iron to steel. These aspects have been confirmed by evidence from various maritime archaeological investigations and shipwreck findings throughout the globe (Pulak 2005: 43; Tripati et al. 2014: 115-143; Curry 1999: 17-23; Wachsmann 1998: 255-293; Upham 1983: 3-25).
Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition... more Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition thus legally recognizing the value of underwater cultural heritage. This was after successful survey and excavation of the 17th Century Portuguese shipwreck, Santa Antonio De Tanna, in Mombasa. Kenya coast is part of the Western Indian Ocean; commonly referred to as the ‘Swahili coast’. This coast was a domain of foreigners from the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It was visited by the Greeks; controlled by the Arabs, Portuguese and the Europeans. In addition, it played a major role in ancient transoceanic maritime trade across the Indian Ocean Seaboard linking the Swahili Coast with the Arab world, India sub-continent, Far East and China, America and Europe. Owing to crude navigation and sea faring technologies of the time, there are on the seabed of Kenya traces of these interactions in the form of archaeological remains. Recent studies have shown that the Kenya coast is home to a number of shipwrecks and has immense potential in underwater cultural heritage. Drawing from ancient literature, previous and current maritime and underwater archaeological studies, and this paper presents the recent discoveries from underwater archaeological surveys in Kenya. The paper illustrates that there is immense potential for underwater archaeology in Kenya that requires new attention both in research and conservation.
This paper reports on the artefacts and environment of marine ballast and pottery sites identifie... more This paper reports on the artefacts and environment of marine ballast and pottery sites identified through inter-tidal and underwater survey around Kilwa, Tanzania, one of the most important medieval sultanates along the east African coast. An inter-tidal site on the limestone fringing reef on the approaches to Kilwa Kisiwani Harbour and an underwater site within the harbour have been dated from associated pottery to c.8th–10th century and the 13th–16th century respectively. The presence of exotic basalt ballast is discussed as an indicator of wreck-sites.
With the archaeological survey of shipwrecks on the east African coast in its infancy, ship engra... more With the archaeological survey of shipwrecks on the east African coast in its infancy, ship engravings are a source for maritime information for the medieval period. This paper reports on the discovery of engravings incised into the plaster of the internal wall of a 15th-century house on the island of Kilepwa at Mida Creek, Kenya. The engravings show Indian Ocean vessels resembling mitepe at rest and at sail, including mast, sail, prow and planking details. The function of the building is discussed, and the evidence from the engravings considered in terms of boat technology, navigation and local belief. They are considered to have been drawn by people involved with the oceanic economy at Kilepwa, a convenient port for large vessels close to the main channel. Possible purposes of the drawings are discussed including that of a votive or charm function.
Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahi... more Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahili maritime networks linked African port towns across the Indian Ocean seaboard, thus enabling merchandise to reach the hinterlands of the continent. One of these Swahili towns is the ancient city of Gedi, located on the central Kenyan coast near the medieval town of Malindi. Located inshore, 6 km from the main ocean to the southeast and 3 km from Mida Creek to the southwest, Gedi's lack of seaward connectivity has perplexed scholars. To effectively function within the vibrant Indian Ocean maritime trade networks of the 10th to 16th centuries CE, Gedi needed access to the sea. Inevitably goods had to be transported overland from a port or landing place. The 'MUCH to Discover in Mida Creek' project carried out an archaeological survey around the Creek to form a broader understanding of the region's maritime past. The study identified a range of sites that evidence past coastal activity. In particular, a concentration of contemporary house sites at Chafisi near the closest point on the Creek to Gedi would suggest it may have acted as an outport for the stone town.
Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahi... more Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahili maritime networks linked African port towns across the Indian Ocean seaboard, thus enabling merchandise to reach the hinterlands of the continent. One of these Swahili towns is the ancient city of Gedi, located on the central Kenyan coast near the medieval town of Malindi. Located inshore, 6 km from the main ocean to the southeast and 3 km from Mida Creek to the southwest, Gedi’s lack of seaward connectivity has perplexed scholars. To effectively function within the vibrant Indian Ocean maritime trade networks of the 10th to 16th centuries CE, Gedi needed access to the sea. Inevitably goods had to be transported overland from a port or landing place. The ‘MUCH to Discover in Mida Creek’ project carried out an archaeological survey around the Creek to form a broader understanding of the region’s maritime past. The study identified a range of sites that evidence past coastal activity. I...
The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in hum... more The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in human technological, cultural, and cognitive evolution. However, the majority of research on this transition is currently focused on southern Africa due to a lack of long-term, stratified sites across much of the African continent. Here, we report a 78,000-year-long archeological record from Panga ya Saidi, a cave in the humid coastal forest of Kenya. Following a shift in toolkits ~67,000 years ago, novel symbolic and technological behaviors assemble in a non-unilinear manner. Against a backdrop of a persistent tropical forest-grassland ecotone, localized innovations better characterize the Late Pleistocene of this part of East Africa than alternative emphases on dramatic revolutions or migrations.
Background: During Early Indian Ocean trade, many species of animals were transported along the r... more Background: During Early Indian Ocean trade, many species of animals were transported along the routes and destinations especially in eastern Africa. The influence of this historical trade on genetic relationships of historically popular pets such as domestic cats, in East African Coast and Persian Gulf has never been evaluated. Herein, we analyzed variation in mitochondrial DNA sequences from one African wildcat together with 59 feral and domestic cats from East African coastal-Lamu (EAC-Lamu) (n=41) and Iran (n=18) to evaluate possibility of exchange of these animals during the historical trade. Results: From this analysis, all ND5 & ND6 sequences of EAC-Lamu and Iranian cats can be assigned into one haplogroup. The haplotype sharing pattern between these two regions is detected in the network. The whole genome analyses reveal cats from EAC-Lamu and Iran cluster into one branch whereas other cat breeds cluster separately into other branches. The demographic history inference furth...
Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition... more Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition thus legally recognizing the value of underwater cultural heritage. This was after successful survey and excavation of the 17th Century Portuguese shipwreck, Santa Antonio De Tanna, in Mombasa. Kenya coast is part of the Western Indian Ocean; commonly referred to as the ‘Swahili coast’. This coast was a domain of foreigners from the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It was visited by the Greeks; controlled by the Arabs, Portuguese and the Europeans. In addition, it played a major role in ancient transoceanic maritime trade across the Indian Ocean Seaboard linking the Swahili Coast with the Arab world, India sub-continent, Far East and China, America and Europe. Owing to crude navigation and sea faring technologies of the time, there are on the seabed of Kenya traces of these interactions in the form of archaeological remains. Recent studies have shown that the Kenya coast is h...
The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in hum... more The Middle to Later Stone Age transition in Africa has been debated as a significant shift in human technological, cultural, and cognitive evolution. However, the majority of research on this transition is currently focused on southern Africa due to a lack of long-term, stratified sites across much of the African continent. Here, we report a 78,000-year-long archeological record from Panga ya Saidi, a cave in the humid coastal forest of Kenya. Following a shift in toolkits~67,000 years ago, novel symbolic and technological behaviors assemble in a non-unilinear manner. Against a backdrop of a persistent tropical forest-grassland ecotone, localized innovations better characterize the Late Pleistocene of this part of East Africa than alternative emphases on dramatic revolutions or migrations.
Since prehistoric times, people have used some kind of watercraft to cross rivers, seas and ocean... more Since prehistoric times, people have used some kind of watercraft to cross rivers, seas and oceans, reaching far-off places - and they most likely used stones as anchors. After several centuries, watercrafts changed dramatically, i.e., construction changed from log to plank, plank to hull and from wood to steel; rowing and sailing were replaced by mechanical power; and carrying capacity increased. Similarly, anchors changed from stone to wood, from lead to iron and iron to steel. These aspects have been confirmed by evidence from various maritime archaeological investigations and shipwreck findings throughout the globe (Pulak 2005: 43; Tripati et al. 2014: 115-143; Curry 1999: 17-23; Wachsmann 1998: 255-293; Upham 1983: 3-25).
Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition... more Kenya is the first sub-Sahara African country to initiate an underwater archaeological expedition thus legally recognizing the value of underwater cultural heritage. This was after successful survey and excavation of the 17th Century Portuguese shipwreck, Santa Antonio De Tanna, in Mombasa. Kenya coast is part of the Western Indian Ocean; commonly referred to as the ‘Swahili coast’. This coast was a domain of foreigners from the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It was visited by the Greeks; controlled by the Arabs, Portuguese and the Europeans. In addition, it played a major role in ancient transoceanic maritime trade across the Indian Ocean Seaboard linking the Swahili Coast with the Arab world, India sub-continent, Far East and China, America and Europe. Owing to crude navigation and sea faring technologies of the time, there are on the seabed of Kenya traces of these interactions in the form of archaeological remains. Recent studies have shown that the Kenya coast is home to a number of shipwrecks and has immense potential in underwater cultural heritage. Drawing from ancient literature, previous and current maritime and underwater archaeological studies, and this paper presents the recent discoveries from underwater archaeological surveys in Kenya. The paper illustrates that there is immense potential for underwater archaeology in Kenya that requires new attention both in research and conservation.
This paper reports on the artefacts and environment of marine ballast and pottery sites identifie... more This paper reports on the artefacts and environment of marine ballast and pottery sites identified through inter-tidal and underwater survey around Kilwa, Tanzania, one of the most important medieval sultanates along the east African coast. An inter-tidal site on the limestone fringing reef on the approaches to Kilwa Kisiwani Harbour and an underwater site within the harbour have been dated from associated pottery to c.8th–10th century and the 13th–16th century respectively. The presence of exotic basalt ballast is discussed as an indicator of wreck-sites.
With the archaeological survey of shipwrecks on the east African coast in its infancy, ship engra... more With the archaeological survey of shipwrecks on the east African coast in its infancy, ship engravings are a source for maritime information for the medieval period. This paper reports on the discovery of engravings incised into the plaster of the internal wall of a 15th-century house on the island of Kilepwa at Mida Creek, Kenya. The engravings show Indian Ocean vessels resembling mitepe at rest and at sail, including mast, sail, prow and planking details. The function of the building is discussed, and the evidence from the engravings considered in terms of boat technology, navigation and local belief. They are considered to have been drawn by people involved with the oceanic economy at Kilepwa, a convenient port for large vessels close to the main channel. Possible purposes of the drawings are discussed including that of a votive or charm function.
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