Earliest Evidence of Plant Farming Unearthed in East Africa

Located in the foothills of Mount Elgon near the Kenya-Uganda border, the Kakapel Rockshelter has provided remarkable insights into the origins of agriculture in East Africa. Archaeologists, led by Natalie Mueller of Washington University in St. Louis, have uncovered a significant assemblage of ancient plant remains, shedding light on the early history of farming in the region.

This discovery, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, marks the earliest evidence of plant farming in East Africa, challenging previous assumptions about agricultural development in this part of the continent.

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A Treasure Trove of Plant Remains

The excavation at Kakapel, a site recognized as a Kenyan national monument since 2004, has unearthed the largest and most extensively dated archaeobotanical record from interior East Africa.

Despite numerous narratives about the beginnings of agriculture in East Africa, direct evidence of ancient plants has been sparse. This has left scientists with limited understanding of how early farming practices emerged in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Natalie Mueller, an assistant professor of archaeology at Washington University, highlighted the significance of the findings:

"We found a huge assemblage of plants, including many crop remains. The past shows a rich history of diverse and flexible farming systems in the region, in opposition to modern stereotypes about Africa."

The discovery of domesticated cowpea remnants, dating back 2,300 years, marks the earliest documented arrival of a cultivated crop in the region, suggesting a dynamic interaction between local herders and incoming Bantu-speaking farmers from central Africa.

Innovative Techniques and Groundbreaking Discoveries

Mueller and her team employed innovative excavation techniques to uncover these ancient plant remains. Using a flotation method to separate plant remnants from ashes and other debris, the researchers were able to identify both wild and domesticated species. This method, though challenging to implement in water-scarce locations, proved effective at Kakapel.

Direct radiocarbon dating of carbonized seeds revealed the arrival of cowpea around 2,300 years ago, coinciding with the introduction of domesticated cattle in the region. The study also documented the arrival of sorghum from the northeast at least 1,000 years ago and the presence of indigenous finger millet seeds dating back to the same period.

One particularly unusual find was a perfectly intact, burnt field pea (Pisum), which had not previously been considered part of early agriculture in this region. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to the understanding of agricultural practices in Iron Age eastern Africa.

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One unusual crop that Mueller uncovered was field pea, burnt but perfectly intact. Peas were not previously considered to be part of early agriculture in this region. (Courtesy of Proc. Royal Soc. B/CC BY SA 4.0)

Implications for Future Research and Food Security

The findings from Kakapel have far-reaching implications, extending beyond archaeology into fields such as historical linguistics, plant science, genetics, African history, and domestication studies. The dynamic and flexible farming systems revealed by this research highlight the importance of community-scale decision-making for food security, a principle that remains relevant in many parts of Africa today.

Emmanuel Ndiema from the National Museums of Kenya emphasized the study's broader significance:

"Our findings at Kakapel reveal the earliest evidence of domesticated crops in East Africa, reflecting the dynamic interactions between local herders and incoming Bantu-speaking farmers. This study exemplifies National Museums of Kenya’s commitment to uncovering the deep historical roots of Kenya’s agricultural heritage and fostering an appreciation of how past human adaptations can inform future food security and environmental sustainability."

Mueller's ongoing work includes identifying the wild plants in the assemblage, particularly those from the oldest parts of the site, predating the advent of agriculture. This research promises to provide valuable insights into the diet and subsistence strategies of early hunter-gatherers in the region, contributing significantly to the understanding of human evolution and the development of agriculture.

A Landmark Study in African Archaeology

The study conducted at Kakapel Rockshelter stands as a landmark in African archaeology, offering unprecedented evidence of early farming practices in East Africa. The collaboration between Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Pittsburgh, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology has yielded groundbreaking discoveries that redefine the history of agriculture in this part of the world. As Mueller and her colleagues continue their research, the rich agricultural heritage of East Africa will undoubtedly be further illuminated, providing valuable lessons for contemporary and future food security and environmental sustainability.

Top image: Located in the foothills of Mount Elgon near the Kenya-Uganda border, Kakapel Rockshelter is the site where WashU archaeologist Natalie Mueller and her collaborators have uncovered the earliest evidence for plant farming in east Africa.                Source: Steven Goldstein/ Royal Society Publishing/CC BY SA 4.0

By Gary Manners