Isimila
Isimila Stone Age · Iringa Acheulean
Early Stone Age Acheulean (260,000 BP)·Acheulean (Early Homo sapiens arch)·🇹🇿 Iringa Region, Tanzania
About
About Isimila
Isimila near Iringa is East Africa's richest Acheulean site, 260,000 BP, on eroded sandstone korongo (gullies) with 260,000 BP Acheulean handaxes 30 cm, cleavers and living floors with Hipparion–Elephas antiquus fauna. Howell 1957–58 and Cole 1960s documented 18 living floors and 330,000 artefacts. Eroded pillars display in situ evolution. Later Sangoan. Demonstrates Acheulean in highland savanna.
Why it mattersRichest Acheulean living floors in East Africa; Howell 1957 reference.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01260ka vs 130ka redating
- 02Living floor spatial organization
Theories
- 01Highland Acheulean adaptation (Howell)
- 02Waterhole tethering model (Isaac)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural korongo gully occupation surfaces 260 ka
- Period
- Early Stone Age Acheulean (260,000 BP)
- Culture
- Acheulean (Early Homo sapiens arch)
- Builders
- Acheulean hominins (Homo heidelbergensis / early sapiens)
- Purpose
- Acheulean butchery and tool knapping by waterhole
- Excavation
- Excavated
260,000 BP
Acheulean living floors
130,000 BP
Sangoan overlying
1957
Howell excavations
1960s
Cole living floors
On the ground
Structures & features
7.9250° S · 35.6050° E · 1550 m · 2 mapped features
Living Floor B5
floorAcheulean floor with handaxes and fauna
7.9240° S · 35.6060° EKorongo Pillars
geomorphologyEroded sandstone pillars preserving floors
7.9260° S · 35.6040° E