Archaeological research in the northern Lake Manyara Basin, Tanzania 2003–2004

Abstract

The University of Helsinki, Department of Archaeology's “Cultural ecology of the East African savanna environment in a long-term historical perspective”—project between 2002 and 2004 focused on the prehistory of the Northern Tanzanian Rift Valley and its environs. The main research emphasis has been on the vast Late Iron Age Engaruka complex, but during the fieldwork several other new sites were also encountered. This paper presents the new archaeological observations made in the northern Lake Manyara Basin, Tanzania, with a special emphasis on the test excavations conducted at the multi-period Misfortune Hill site. The preceramic Late Stone Age lithic assemblage obtained from the excavations is described in detail. On the basis of this some tentative implications for prehistoric behaviour and site-use are discussed. These provide a basis for wider behavioural studies in the future.