The early stone age of Kondoa, Central Tanzania

Unlike the northeastern and coastal areas of Tanzania where extensive archaeological researches have taken place, the central region Tanzania, including Kondoa and Singida, has been superficially examined. The earliest archaeology works in central Tanzania concentrated on documentation of rock art, the Later Stone Age and Iron Age. In contrast, the current research was carried out to investigate on the Early Stone Age (ESA) cultures precisely the Acheulean culture at Haubi. The project aimed at examining and describing typology, raw materials and stratigraphic distribution of the Acheulean artifact from the Iresi A site as an approach to the understanding of pre LSA and Iron Age cultures of cemtral Tanzania. Primary data recovery involved both archaeological surface survey and extraction of archaeological artifacts. Deliberaye sampling was used to identify and locate the ESA surface exposures. Recovered materials include the exclusive Acheulean stone artifacts which were found both in primary and secondary contexts. Data analysis suggested that the Iresi A Acheulean assemblage represents the late Acheulean industry. These findings make Haubi as one of the important ESA sites and sheds light on the archaeological potential of central Tanzania and Kondoa in particular. It is upon this research findings, the researcher urge for more serious consideration of ESA studies in central Tanzania. Also diverse archaeological investigations should be directed in less considered parts of the country to disclose their archaeological potentials.