 Isimila Stone Age site is about 20km (12½ miles) from Iringa. The site was discovered in 1951 by a schoolboy who found an axe-head. It was originally excavated by Chicago University in 1958 and is considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa.
Stone age man lived by a shallow lake, now dried up 100,000 to 60,000 years ago. He was probably a hunter because fragments of bones of elephants, hippopotamus, giraffe, antelope, pigs and other animals have been discovered.
In addition many stone age tools have been found, such as axe-heads, cleavers, hammers and spear heads.
The guides at the site are excellent and an exhibition centre is due to open shortly.
A short walk from the Stone Age site is the spectacular Isimila Gulley, an area of red sandstone, with impressive, ‘wafer thin’ pillars which rise to a height of 15 metres (50 feet). The area has an eerie feeling and was created through the erosion of the landscape by a river which dried up many years ago.
Isimila Stone Age site and Isimila Gulley provide an excellent half day visit and we include it in all our itineraries for those guests staying in Iringa. |
