Kenya, Truly The Cradle Of Mankind
Kenya is endowed with natural beauty and a rich pre-historic record that dates back over 100 Million years ago, way back into the age of dinosaurs.
The Lake Turkana National Parks (constituted of Sibiloi, the South Island and the Central Island National Parks) is unique and is amongst the six World Heritage Sites in Kenya. It is believed that this is where life began as we know it, therefore proving that Kenya truly is the Cradle of Mankind.
In 1968, research work began on the Eastern shores of Lake Turkana (Koobi Fora) led by Dr. Richard Leakey, a world renown paleontologist. By 1994, over 200 hominid and animal fossils were found here, more than any collection the world had ever produced in 60 years.
To-date, research continues with the National Museums of Kenya team of expert scientists, in the quest to find the missing link.
Lake Turkana Clues…
- The Lake Turkana National Parks is a World Heritage Site serving as a stopover for migrant waterfowl and a major breeding ground for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus and a variety of venomous snakes. Koobi Fora deposits, rich in mammalian, molluscan and other fossil remains, has contributed more to the understanding of human evolution than any other site in the continent.
- Commonly referred to by Anthropologists as the Cradle of Mankind, Kenya holds an unsurpassed archive of Human Prehistory. It holds the world’s richest record of human pre-history, the longest and most complete record of human ancestry spanning over 27 Million years and a rich fossil heritage stretching back over 100 million years into the dinosaur age. This is the largest and most-well documented collection of human related fossils that exists and is unmatched anywhere in the world, and can only be found at the National Museums of Kenya Headquarters.
- Not only are all species of human related fossils represented but you can also find some fauna (animal life) and plant species related to the evolution theory such as elephants, crocodiles. In addition to fossil records, the existence of a long record of technological evolution with tools as old as 2.3 million years old also exists.
- Other than Turkana, a wide environmental representation in regards to evidence of fossils and tools also exists in other parts of the country. Each region in Kenya has a story to tell e.g. Rift Valley, Turkana.
- There is a wide genetic representation among some people, such as the Turkana, pointing to the fact that humans have been here for a very long time.
- There is a connection with the Far East, through the Red Sea, where humans are believed to have dispersed from to other regions of the world.
- There is evidence of other factors that relate to the evolution of humans such as humans made fire as far back as 1.8Million years ago and the existence of footprints dating back to 1.55 million years.
- Kenya’s human fossil record dates back to the last 6 million years, making Kenya undisputedly the oldest record holder and truly the Cradle of Mankind
The study of human evolution began in the early 20th Century and still continues to-date through the tireless efforts of Kenyan scientists at the National Museums of Kenya. Amongst the most famous discoveries that have put Kenya on the world map is the Turkana Boy, discovered by a Kenyan -Mr. Kamoya Kimeu, dating back to 1.6 million years ago. This young boy of about 9 – 12 years old and 1.6 meters tall, is the only almost complete skeleton of a human related fossil ever found in the world and can be viewed at the National Museum, amongst other discoveries in Nairobi.
In terms of tourism, the Northern Tourist Circuit offers visitors with an opportunity to make pilgrimage visits to Kenya, Truly the Cradle of Mankind.
For visitors looking for adventure, this semi-desert like environment offers amazing opportunities to discover Kenya’s hidden treasures of Northern Kenya. These include spectacular scenic viewing, a rich cultural heritage, bird watching, three national parks in one location, a visit to the Cradle of Mankind (archaeological sites) which also have extinct species such as tortoise, elephant and crocodile, Koobi Fora Museum and campsite amongst many other attractions.
Along the route expect to see minority communities such as the El Molo and the rich cultural heritage of the Samburus, Pokots, Rendilles, Gabbra, Dassanach, Turkanas and Wattas some of whom are distant cousins of the more popular Maasai community.
Link Truly the Cradle of Mankind to the Kenya Historical and Archaeological Sites document