Engaruka
Encyclopedia
Engaruka is an abandoned system of ruins in the Great Rift Valley
of northern Tanzania
(2°58′58.80"S 35°57′0.00"E), famed for its irrigation and cultivation system. It is considered one of the most important Tanzanian archaeological site
s.
farming community with a large continuous village area on the footslopes of the Rift Valley escarpment, housing several thousand people developed an intricate irrigation and cultivation system, involving a stone-block canal channelling water from the "Crater Highlands" rift escarpment to stonelined cultivation terraces (Stump, Daryl 2006, Laulumaa, Vesa 2006). Measures were taken to prevent soil erosion and the fertility of the plots was increased by using the manure of stall fed cattle. For an unknown reason Engaruka was abandoned at latest in mid-19th century. The site still poses many questions, including the identity of the founders, how they developed such an ingenious farming system, and why they left (Stump, Daryl 2003). The site has been linked to the Sonjo
, a people living some 60 miles to the northwest known for their use of irrigation systems in agriculture and similar terraced village sites (Nurse, Derek & Rottland, Franz 1991). New studies have revealed lot of unknown perspectives of the past of Engaruka, for example the Middle Stone Age
and Neolithic
Stone Age occupation history of the area (Seitsonen, Oula 2005).
, who passed them on July 5, 1883, and compared them to the tumbled-down walls of ancient castles. Drs Scoeller and Kaiser mentioned the ruins of "Ngaruku" including great stone circles and dams in 1896-97. The first detailed and archaeological investigation was by Hans Reck, in 1913. Louis Leakey
and Mary Leakey
investigated the site in 1935, but were disappointed by the lack of burial sites. They estimated a population of 30,000 (now considered exaggerated).
Through the years archaeological studies have been conducted for example through the later part of the 20th century by Dr. John Sutton of British Institute in Eastern Africa, and in 2002–2005 by Professor Ari Siiriainen's team from the Department of Archaeology University of Helsinki
in Cultural Ecology of the East African Savanna Environment in a Long-term Historical Perspective -Project. More recently studies have been done by Dr. Darryl Stump of the University College of London as part of his PhD thesis work in 2001-2004. Started in 2006 the University of Helsinki
project continued Siiriainen's work in a continuation project LESE (Long-term Ecology of the Savannah Environment) which concentrates on studying the connections between Engaruka and Sonjo
area.
The Maasai herd cattle throughout the rift region, and conduct tourist tours of the site.
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
of northern Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
(2°58′58.80"S 35°57′0.00"E), famed for its irrigation and cultivation system. It is considered one of the most important Tanzanian archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s.
Site
Sometime in the fifteenth century, an iron ageIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
farming community with a large continuous village area on the footslopes of the Rift Valley escarpment, housing several thousand people developed an intricate irrigation and cultivation system, involving a stone-block canal channelling water from the "Crater Highlands" rift escarpment to stonelined cultivation terraces (Stump, Daryl 2006, Laulumaa, Vesa 2006). Measures were taken to prevent soil erosion and the fertility of the plots was increased by using the manure of stall fed cattle. For an unknown reason Engaruka was abandoned at latest in mid-19th century. The site still poses many questions, including the identity of the founders, how they developed such an ingenious farming system, and why they left (Stump, Daryl 2003). The site has been linked to the Sonjo
Sonjo
The Sonjo are a people living in northern Tanzania, 30-40 miles west of Lake Natron, who have lived for centuries as an isolated enclave in Maasai territory. In 2002 the Sonjo population was estimated to number 30,000...
, a people living some 60 miles to the northwest known for their use of irrigation systems in agriculture and similar terraced village sites (Nurse, Derek & Rottland, Franz 1991). New studies have revealed lot of unknown perspectives of the past of Engaruka, for example the Middle Stone Age
Middle Stone Age
The Middle Stone Age was a period of African Prehistory between Early Stone Age and Late Stone Age. It is generally considered to have begun around 280,000 years ago and ended around 50-25,000 years ago. The beginnings of particular MSA stone tools have their origins as far back as 550-500,000...
and Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
Stone Age occupation history of the area (Seitsonen, Oula 2005).
Explorers
The first explorer to record the existence of these ruins was Dr. Gustav FischerGustav Fischer
Gustav Adolf Fischer was a German African explorer.-Biography:He was born at Barmen. In 1876 he accompanied the Denhardt East Africa exploring expedition to Zanzibar, where he settled as a physician, and in the following year explored Wituland and the southern Oromo country...
, who passed them on July 5, 1883, and compared them to the tumbled-down walls of ancient castles. Drs Scoeller and Kaiser mentioned the ruins of "Ngaruku" including great stone circles and dams in 1896-97. The first detailed and archaeological investigation was by Hans Reck, in 1913. Louis Leakey
Louis Leakey
Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey was a British archaeologist and naturalist whose work was important in establishing human evolutionary development in Africa. He also played a major role in creating organizations for future research in Africa and for protecting wildlife there...
and Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey was a British archaeologist and anthropologist, who discovered the first skull of a fossil ape on Rusinga Island and also a noted robust Australopithecine called Zinjanthropus at Olduvai. For much of her career she worked together with her husband, Louis Leakey, in Olduvai Gorge,...
investigated the site in 1935, but were disappointed by the lack of burial sites. They estimated a population of 30,000 (now considered exaggerated).
Through the years archaeological studies have been conducted for example through the later part of the 20th century by Dr. John Sutton of British Institute in Eastern Africa, and in 2002–2005 by Professor Ari Siiriainen's team from the Department of Archaeology University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
in Cultural Ecology of the East African Savanna Environment in a Long-term Historical Perspective -Project. More recently studies have been done by Dr. Darryl Stump of the University College of London as part of his PhD thesis work in 2001-2004. Started in 2006 the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
project continued Siiriainen's work in a continuation project LESE (Long-term Ecology of the Savannah Environment) which concentrates on studying the connections between Engaruka and Sonjo
Sonjo
The Sonjo are a people living in northern Tanzania, 30-40 miles west of Lake Natron, who have lived for centuries as an isolated enclave in Maasai territory. In 2002 the Sonjo population was estimated to number 30,000...
area.
Modern Engaruka
Engaruka is also the name of a modern village not far from the archaeological site.The Maasai herd cattle throughout the rift region, and conduct tourist tours of the site.