Abstract
EXPLORATION of a cave in the Njoro Forest Reserve of Kenya by Dr. L. S. B. and Mrs. Leakey has brought to light cultural evidence, which theybelieve, it is stated by the Nairobi correspondent of The Times (May 23), points to a connexion with prehistoric opal mining on an extensive scale. The excavations have shown that this cave was used as a place for the disposal of the dead of stone age man. The bodies were brought to the cave, placed in a shallow excavation, and burnt to ashes by a fire lit over them. As time went on, the earlier ashes were disturbed by later incinerations, and the remains of at least sixty bodies have been discovered. The large number of cultural objects found include five hundred stoneand one thousand bone beads. The stone beads are especially interesting, as among them are specimens of what appear to be jade and opal, as well as rock crystal and green quartz. Attractive jade pendants were also found. Many of the beads are said to show skilful workmanship, and it is therefore suggested that they may have been brought to East Africa by traders from Egypt and Mesopotamia. The beads are being submitted to expertsin England for examination and report. It has been possible to reconstruct from charred fragments both basket work and rope work, and an exquisitely carved wooden vessel. Dr. Leakey, it is stated, attributes the large number of beads found here to trading activities attracted by the opalmines, and, tentatively, suggests 4000 B.C. as a possible date.
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Prehistoric Mines in East Africa. Nature 141, 965–966 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141965c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141965c0