Excavations at the Kakapel Rockshelter in Kenya revealed the largest and most extensively dated archaeobotanical record from interior East Africa, spanning over 9,000 years.
The excavation at the Lake Victoria region was conducted by archaeologists from Washington University, the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.
Plant remains were separated from ashes using floatation.
The findings include charred remains of domesticated crops like cowpea (dating back to 2,300 years ago, the earliest documented arrival in eastern Africa), sorghum, finger millet, and the unexpected field pea, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of plant farming in the region.
The diverse plant remains reflect interactions between local herders and incoming Bantu-speaking farmers, showcasing the gradual introduction of crops from different parts of Africa.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Eurasia Review, Popular Science, Ancient Origins, Technology Networks, Europa Press, India Education Diary, Mirage News, Sci News, EurekAlert!