Usenge 3 (Urewe)
Basic information
Sample name: Usenge 3 (Urewe)
Reference: P. Lane, C. Ashley, O. Seitsonen, P. Harvey, S. Mire, and F. Odede. 2007. The transition to farming in eastern Africa: New faunal and dating evidence from Wadh Lang'o and Usenge, Kenya. Antiquity 81:62-81 [ER 3703]
Geography
Country: Kenya
State: Nyanza
Coordinate: 2° 15' S, 34° 2' E
Coordinate basis: based on nearby landmark
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3703.2
Unit number: 2
Unit order: below to above
Ma: 0.00156
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: The Usenge 3 (GqJa 3) site is located in northern Nyanza Province below a low bluff on the north-western side of Lake Saru, Kenya.
The sole radiocarbon date for the "Urewe" deposit is 1560 ± 40 BP.
The sole radiocarbon date for the "Urewe" deposit is 1560 ± 40 BP.
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation,midden,settlement
Archaeology: ceramics,stone tools
Habitat comments: "Usenge 3 is one of eight shell-midden sites with Kansyore and later deposits located along the bluff, which probably represents a former shoreline".
"Above the Kansyore ceramics horizon, Urewe ceramics were encountered in a rare state of horizontal preservation including a moulded clay stand for holding a large pot and a series of ceramic scatters, the most impressive of which probably represents a discrete rubbish midden".
In addition to ceramics, various stone tools including cores, microliths, and scrapers were also present, along with cut marks on some bones.
"Above the Kansyore ceramics horizon, Urewe ceramics were encountered in a rare state of horizontal preservation including a moulded clay stand for holding a large pot and a series of ceramic scatters, the most impressive of which probably represents a discrete rubbish midden".
In addition to ceramics, various stone tools including cores, microliths, and scrapers were also present, along with cut marks on some bones.
Methods
Life forms: carnivores,rodents,ungulates,birds,lizards,snakes,turtles
Sampling methods: quarry
Sample size: 31 specimens
Years: 2000
Sampling comments: "Usenge 3 was subject to hoe cultivation at the time of excavation, with two of the test-pits showing signs of modern disturbance (including a child burial). Nevertheless, a third 5 × 3m unit (Trench A) revealed intact deposits, apparently protected from modern interference by a nearby hedge".
No further excavation details are provided.
No further excavation details are provided.
Metadata
Sample number: 3912
Contributor: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-03-03 16:41:42
Modified: 2023-05-01 00:35:32
Abundance distribution
15 species
7 singletons
total count 31
extrapolated richness: 45.6
Fisher's α: 11.444
geometric series k: 0.8914
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.9022
Shannon's H: 2.5233
Good's u: 0.7825
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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| Syncerus caffer | 2 | 548 kg grazer-browser |
| Tragelaphus scriptus | 1 | 31 kg browser-grazer |
| Sylvicapra grimmia | 1 | 13 kg browser-grazer |
| Giraffa camelopardalis | 1 | 942 kg browser |
| Hippopotamus amphibius | 3 | 1107 kg grazer |
| Herpestidae indet. | 1 | |
| Tragelaphus spekii | 2 | 54 kg browser-grazer |
| Phacochoerus africanus | 1 | 82 kg grazer-browser |
| Bos sp. | 2 | |
| also 7 Bovidae indet. | ||
| Caprinae indet. | 5 | |
| "Ovicaprines" | ||
| Aves indet. | 3 | |
| Rodentia indet. | 5 | |
| Serpentes indet. | 1 | |
| Varanus niloticus | 1 | |
| Testudines indet. | 2 | |
Current reference:
Shotwell 1968 (ER 3992)