Faunal analysis from Kibaoni, a late precolonial Pimbwe village in Rukwa Valley, Tanzania: first reconstructions of cultural and environmental histories

Abstract

The cultural history and past ecology of the northern Rukwa Valley, southwestern Tanzania, are largely unknown. We report here the results of excavations conducted at Kibaoni, a Pimbwe village located near Katavi National Park, which, based on ceramic typologies, displays a long sequence of occupation dating to as early as the fourth century AD. The faunal remains at the site indicate opportunistic hunting practices similar to those seen in Rukwa today, despite the numerous political and demographic changes of the past century. Our analysis contributes to the construction of a cultural history for the region and indicates that further study will aid in understanding the interplay between humans and the environment in late precolonial, interior East Africa.