Panga ya Saidi, Archaeological cave site in Kilifi County, Kenya.
Panga ya Saidi is a limestone cave in Kilifi County with multiple chambers that extend deep into the Dzitsoni hills. It sits roughly 15 kilometers from the Indian Ocean coast and holds archaeological layers documenting tens of thousands of years of human occupation.
Archaeological layers show human settlement from the Middle Stone Age through the Iron Age. This long history is reflected in the cave's different levels, with each layer revealing a distinct period and way of living.
The cave served as a workplace where people crafted tools and processed shells across millennia, revealing how they organized their daily tasks. These activities left traces of bone work, beads, and red ochre that show how inhabitants used this space for both practical and creative purposes.
The site is actively studied by international research teams coordinated through Kenya's National Museums. Visitors should prepare for steep paths and bring layers, as the cave interior remains cool regardless of outside temperature.
The cave held Kenya's oldest bead, dated to 65,000 years ago. This discovery shows that people in this distant past already possessed artistic and decorative skills.
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