Research Items

Abstract

Ancient Civilisation in the Rift Valley.—Capt. G. E. H. Wilson discusses in Man for November the evidence for the existence of a forgotten civilisation in the Rift Valley, East Africa. The existence of ancient works, terracing, graded roads (the so-called elephant tracks) and irrigation works—canals and drainage—is now established not only in Tanganyika, but also in Abyssinia, Uganda, Kenya and Northern Rhodesia. The terraces, averaging in width at the top about one foot, but probably originally about three feet, follow the contours of the hills. The depth between terraces is about three feet. The roads, clearly not elephant tracks, point to a high state of civilisation. They are difficult to locate, though in places they are part of roads in use to-day. The points at present located suggest a system of communication running north and south on the eastern side of the Great Lakes, pointing to outlets by way of the Nile in the north and by Rhapta in the south, with possibly an intermediate route via Mombasa, the origin of which may prove very much more ancient than is thought. There are traces of an extensive system of irrigation at Uhehe, and in low lying districts, such as the Mgeta River near Kisaki, there are river diversions which may be artificial. As to the authors of this civilisation, there are legends of an alien race dominating local peoples in both north and south Tanganyika. At present there is a great diversity of language and culture where these ancient works are found; but at some time the people may have been more homogeneous. If there has been an alien immigration, it is possible that it may have taken place so early as 1500 B.C., and that by the time of Solomon (970 B.C.) a flourishing trade already existed and the Sheban port of Rhapta had been established. It is suggested that this ancient civilisation may have originated in the north, spread through the Rift Valley over the highlands of the Great Lakes, and have reached Zimbabwe.