Urewe, Archaeological site near Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Urewe is an archaeological site near Lake Victoria containing remains of early Iron Age settlements. The excavation area holds numerous ancient objects, including specialized pottery with geometric designs and iron smelting furnaces.
The settlement dates from 500 BC to 800 AD and represents the first Early Iron Age civilization discovered south of the equator in East Africa. It demonstrates the origins of iron working in this region and its rapid development across several centuries.
The early inhabitants practiced mixed farming with cattle herding and cultivated millet and sorghum crops. They developed advanced metalworking techniques to create both practical tools and decorative pieces.
The site is open to visitors, but active excavation work takes place regularly. It is helpful to check ahead of time since conditions vary depending on the season and ongoing research activities.
The iron smelting furnaces at the site featured a specialized drainage system using fresh leaves to filter slag during metal production. This reveals the sophisticated techniques these early craftspeople employed to improve their work.
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