Iron Age Archaeology and Traditional History in Embu, Mbeere and Chuka Areas of Central Kenya

Abstract

Summary The article describes the results of an archaeological survey of parts of the lower south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya and attempts a somewhat inconclusive correlation with historical traditions. The majority of sites belong to the Iron Age, divided into recent Iron Age on sites attributable to present peoples of the area, and prehistoric Iron Age. The latter can be sub-divided into those of four different groups on the basis of typology, of which one has close affinities to Early Iron Age Kwale ware and another represents Gatung'ang'a ware, probably developing out of Kwale ware. Both these groups probably represent a Bantu-speaking population dating from perhaps the mid-first millenium to mid-second millennium A.D. Two other prehistoric pottery groups were tentatively identified. It was not possible to demonstrate continuity in ceramic wares between the prehistoric and recent periods.