title photo

Naivasha Virtual Fieldcourse

Hyrax Hill

This site, situated in a dominant position facing the surrounding landscape, offers outstanding scenic views of Lake Nakuru and beyond. Undoubtedly, the historical settlements found in this area have much to do with the strategic view offered by this outstanding lava outcrop.

Hyrax Hill was originally discovered during the early explorations conducted by the Leakeys (Mary and Louis) in the 1920s, a famous family of white Kenyan palaeontologists, who brought ancient Kenyan history to the attention of the whole world. Since then, the site has played a central role in the reconstruction of East African archaeology.

The Early Iron Age findings by Mary Leakey were partly wrongly interpreted and were later completed by more recent discoveries made international archaeologists and by staff from the National Museums of Kenya. These revealed the existence of several layers of ancient cultures that had stratified within the same site spanning from 3000 years ago (Neolithic), to the first millennium A.D. (Iron age in East Africa), up to 300 years ago, and leaving scattered traces of the past.

Several human skeletons were recovered from Hyrax Hill, dating from different ages, some decapitated, arranged in different positions and differently adorned according to gender. The arrival of trading caravans coming to this region from the East African coast is testified by the presence of 6 Indian coins found here dating back to some 500 years ago.

Many ancient mysteries are still to be recovered from the remains of Hyrax Hill.