Pastoralism and Pottery Use: An Ethnoarchaeological Study in Samburu, Kenya

In Samburu, Kenya, ethnoarchaeological research reveals a deep and perhaps unexpected integration of pottery use into a mobile lifestyle centered on the herding of livestock. This paper examines the importance of pottery to Samburu survival, particularly for the preparation of bone soups, wild plant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The African archaeological review 2014-06, Vol.31 (2), p.105-130
Main Author: Grillo, Katherine M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Archaeology
Architecture
Art pottery
Boiling
Ceramics
Cooking pots
Ethnography
Farming
Food security
Herding
Livestock
Material culture
Meats
Original Article
Pastoral nomads
Pastoralism
Pottery
Regional and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
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Summary:In Samburu, Kenya, ethnoarchaeological research reveals a deep and perhaps unexpected integration of pottery use into a mobile lifestyle centered on the herding of livestock. This paper examines the importance of pottery to Samburu survival, particularly for the preparation of bone soups, wild plants, and other foods during times of drought and food insecurity. These data raise new questions about how pottery and other household material culture may have influenced the origins and development of African pastoralism. En Samburu, Kenya, la recherche ethnoarchéologique révèle une intégration profonde et peut-être inattendu de l'utilisation de la poterie dans une vie mobile centrée sur l'élevage de bétail. Cet article examine l'importance de la poterie à la survie des gens Samburu, notamment pour la préparation de soupes d'os, de plantes sauvages et d'autres aliments pendant les périodes de sécheresse et l'insécurité alimentaire. Ces données soulèvent de nouvelles questions sur la façon dont la poterie et autres culture matérielle des ménages peuvent avoir influé sur les origines et le développement du pastoralisme africain.
ISSN:0263-0338
1572-9842
DOI:10.1007/s10437-014-9147-6