Hyrax Hill

Archaeological research shows that the hill has been a seasonal settlement for prehistoric people for at least 3,000 years, as revealed by the numerous sites around the hill, that belong to different time periods. The earliest finds date to the Neolithic period. There is evidence in the form of beach sands that a Lake once extended probably as fresh water right to the base of the hill; turning the hill into a peninsular or even an island. The mighty prehistoric lake is believed to have covered the valley from Nakuru to Lake Elementaita about 8,500 years ago. Traces of it have been found at Hyrax hill, the Wakumi Burial site, Gambles cave and other places.
The hill was given its name during the early part of the 20th century. It was prompted by the abundance of hyraxes (Procavia Capensis) which lived in the rock fissures.
As a region of archaeological interest, Hyrax hill was first noted by the East African Archaeological Expedition of 1926, led by L.S.B. Leakey. In 1937, Mary Leakey undertook some archaeological surveys on the hill. Since then, research has been intermittent with major undertakings in 1965 by Ron Clarke.
The Hyrax hill was gazetted as a National Monument by the Kenya Government in 1943. The recognition followed 4 years after first archaeological excavation on the hill. Work was done by Dr. Mary Leakey between 1938 and 1939. Since then Hyrax hill has been a renowned archaeological research area and reference point for investigations of prehistory of East Africa.
The Hyrax hill museum is a former farmhouse ceded to the monument in 1965, by the Late Mr. A. Selfe. A small museum was opened here where artifacts from the Hyrax hill site and other sites in the central Rift valley are displayed.
At Hyrax hill, some sites have been excavated and left open for public exhibition. The site provides scenery of lifestyles and achievements of distant ancestors with its well-preserved and laid out exhibits.

Olorgesailie

Olorgesailie area is in a lake basin that existed during the latter part of the middle Pleistocene period, probably between 200,000 and 100,000 yea rs ago. Investigations on the site started in 1942; the researchers being Dr. and Mrs. Leakey. It has important evidence that concerns the habits and activities of early prehistoric peoples of the Acheuleus or Hand axe culture. Olorgesailie has excellently preserved biological and cultural evidence about the evolution of man.

This was made possible by heavy falls of alkaline volcanic ash from the volcano activities around the site. Subsequent earth movements made the stratigraphy and fossils available for study. Around the site stand Mt. Suswa and Mt. Longonot which are volcanic in origin, the vents of which might have contributed much to the ash which accumulated in the Olorgesailie basin. There is evidence of humid climate during part of the middle Pleistocene that is given by temporary lakes and swamps that exist in the area today. The sediments left by the lake cover an area of 50sq miles (about 80km2) in extent.

Human tools are the most prominent of all fossils in the area. The accumulation of tool represents the actual camping places of early men. There is good evidence that human species had a tropical origin. A higher primate group was confined to this part of the world. The continent of Africa had the greatest populations of evolving hominids to which Olorgesailie gives evidence not only of local importance but also of international significance. Scientifically,

the site has much to do with archaeological, Palaeontological and geological meaning.

Koobi Fora
In the language of the Gabbra people who live near the site, the term Koobi Fora means a place of the commiphora and the source of myrrh, which is a common plant in this hot and arid area.

Research work on the site began in 1968. Hominid fossils from the Plio/Pleistocene of Eastern Africa have been recovered from seven localities of which the most extensive is that of East of Lake Turkana. This Koobi Fora site comprises approximately 700 square miles of fluvial and lacustine sediments representing a broadly continuous sequence of deposition from the Pliocene (5.0 million) to the Early Pleistocene (1.0 million) years old. Since June 1968, more than 70 hominid fossils had been recovered. One hominid model; Australopithecus Sensu Lato, has been documented as a chrono species of over a period of 2 million years old.

During this period according to researchers, there was little significant morphological change as evident in the element preserved both at Koobi Fora and elsewhere in East Africa. Prior to 1960, most of the evidence for the evolution of man during the early Pleistocene was confined to Southern Africa. The greatest body of evidence for early hominid development has been obtained from the large site in Northern Kenya. Between 1968 and 1972, a total of 87 fossil hominid specimens were recovered.

Stone artifacts have also been obtained in the site not forgetting that other animal plant fossils have also been discovered. For example several taxa of giraffines have been yielded. The first Australopithecus skull was found here by Dr. Richard Leakey a reknown paleontologist.