Archaeologists have just discovered, excavated, and identified the earliest evidence for plant farming in East Africa, throwing a flash of light on the dark past of the origins of agriculture in the region.
Excavated in Kenya, the findings shed important light on the history of early farming practices in an area previously considered pivotal yet lacking physical proof of crops.
The Kakapel Rockshelter Discovery (Photo : GUY PETERSON/AFP via Getty Images)
This site-which was the subject of recent excavations by a joint team of Washington University in St Louis and the University of Pittsburgh-has produced the largest and most extensively dated archaeobotanical record from interior East Africa to date.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B describes the identification of numerous plant remains, including domesticated crops such as cowpeas.
Directly dated to 2,300 years ago, these remains are the earliest physical evidence of the arrival of domesticated crops-and presumably of farming lifestyles-to East Africa.
Agriculture's Ancient Beginnings
The importance of the work at Kakapel Rockshelter lies not only in its revelation of the date of introduction for several crops from around Africa but also in challenging contemporary stereotypes about African farming systems.
The past, opened up by these findings, is rich in diversity and flexibility within farming systems-opposite to the grossly reductionist accounts of African agriculture.
Particular significance attaches to the remnants of cowpeas found on the site, which are taken to have originated in West Africa and to have entered the Lake Victoria basin only with the spread of Bantu-speaking peoples migrating from Central Africa.
Frontal, this discovery gives a clearer picture of the dynamic interactions between local herders and incoming Bantu-speaking farmers. The Kakapel Rockshelter, already a known rock art site, is also artifact evidence of over 9,000 years of human occupation. T
he discoveries at this site resonate even more with the National Museums of Kenya's commitment to unearthing the deep historical roots of Kenya's agricultural heritage and fostering an appreciation for the past human adaptations that inform future food security and environmental sustainability.
The discovery at Kakapel Rockshelter presents a landmark moment in understanding the emergence and development of agriculture in East Africa.
It provides an open window into the gradual introductions of crops and complex interactions that characterized the building process of the agricultural history in that region.
The study enriches knowledge about early farming practices with implications for contemporary discussions on food security and environmental management.
How did this research impact our understanding of African agriculture?
The results of the recent archaeological excavations at Kakapel Rockshelter have brought about a significant change in our perceptions of African agriculture.
Recovery of plant remains dating back 2,300 years has given a new chronology to the introduction of farming into East Africa.
Taking this evidence, the over-simplifying views of African agricultural history instead become a complex tapestry of diverse and adaptable farming systems.
The presence of cowpea, a crop originating from West Africa, does suggest a continental exchange in agricultural knowledge. These contacts between the indigenous herders and migrant farmers mean a portrait of cultural fusion and agricultural evolution.
It also puts an approximate value on the historical insights into the processes underpinning a desire for food and environmental security, drawing attention to the role of past human adaptations for contemporary sustainable practices for modern times.
