A group of researchers led by Dr. Francis Kirera, assistant professor of anatomy at Mercer University School of Medicine, conducted three weeks of field research in December at a recently discovered early human site in the Central Highlands region of Kenya.
 
Kenya is well known for its rich collection of early human fossil remains. However, most of these fossils were recovered from limited sites located along the East African Rift Valley. The discovery of new fossils in the Central Highlands is a rare occurrence, Dr. Kirera said.
 
“Our research team was very fortunate to conduct field research and document the first evidence of early human activities from this unique new site,” he said. “This research opened a new frontier in the study of human origins: the fossils and stone artifacts from the site show for the first time that early humans and other prehistoric mammals in East Africa were geographically much more dispersed than it is currently reported in the paleontological literature. These findings provide further evidence that early humans were inhabiting and exploiting resources in high altitudes and much colder mountainous environments.”
 
Over three weeks, Dr. Kirera’s research team was able to recover more than 100 fossil specimens belonging to different mammalian groups including antelopes, equids (horse family), hippos and primates. In addition, the researches spotted various stone tools including hand axes, projectiles, bifaces, points and scrapers.
 
The team’s future research objectives are to recover more fossils and stone tools, to conduct detailed excavations and to establish the geological context of the artifacts. The team is also working closely with local communities and the county government to have the area designated as a prehistoric site.
 
Other researchers collaborating in the study include Dr. Jillani Ngalla of the National Museums of Kenya, Professor Eliud Mathu of South Eastern Kenya University, Professor Christopher Nyamai of the University of Nairobi and Dr. Nasser Malit of Potsdam University in New York.
 
Due to the significance of this research and the uniqueness of the new site in the prehistory of Kenya, the field research was featured in the Daily Nation, one of the leading newspapers in Kenya.