New archaeological discoveries from the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya

Abstract

This research builds on the results of a three year interdisciplinary project carried out by the British Institute in Eastern Africa on the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. Recent investigations at the Maasai Plains Site, a large Pastoral Iron Age site located on present-day Mugie Ranch, have produced one of the largest and most complete collections of Kisima ware to date. In addition, newly discovered Pastoral Neolithic open-air sites are described further southeast on Lolldaiga Ranch. Not only are substantial Pastoral Neolithic open-air sites present on the Laikipia Plateau, but their size and spatial distribution compares to Pastoral Neolithic sites already discovered in the southwestern and Central Rift Valley regions of Kenya.