Preliminary report on the archaeological investigation of the Mara Region, southeast of the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

Abstract

This study presents findings from archaeological research conducted in the Mara Region between 2023 and 2024 as part of a University of Dar es Salaam field school. It centers on excavations at the Mkirira, Balima, and Nyabekwabi rock shelter sites in the Musoma and Butiama districts within the southeastern Lake Victoria Basin (LVB). Despite its potential for significant discoveries, this area remains one of the most underexplored in the country. The initial survey and excavations uncovered artefacts, including Later Stone Age (LSA) lithics, pottery, beads made from ostrich eggshells, ochre, remains of wild animals, and exotic obsidian. These findings indicate that hunter-gatherers in the basin engaged in hunting and fishing while living in open-air sites and rock shelters. The isolated discovery of a potsherd with a smooth fabric at Nyabekwabi warrants further investigation to determine whether it belongs to the Kansyore tradition or represents a different cultural affiliation. Moreover, the presence of Kansyore and Iron Age pottery traditions such as Urewe and Lanet highlights mobility, technological, and land-use behaviours across the LVB and surrounding regions of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, providing crucial insights into human adaptive strategies.