Kenya : Cradle of Mankind

I am particularly very proud to be Kenyan today ; I think every Kenyan should be. Have you noticed that in many international movies and television series you will find a mention of Kenya come up? It gets better when it's for good reasons unlike many other African countries; mostly it's about safaris. It's a fantastic feeling knowing we are among the best when it comes to
wildlife
and safaris.
Irregardless, I believe I have another reason to be proud of Kenya here. Do you believe in the theories of evolution?  Well, if you do, you have to know that
Kenya is said to be the
cradle of mankind. Nonetheless, Ethiopia and South Africa claim the same 'title'.
In respect to that, The National Museum of Kenya has a list of factual support to the 'claim' as the cradle of mankind and it is as follows ;

Kenya has the largest number of
fossil human remains appr. 1000
individuals than any other country
in Africa.

Kenya has the oldest human remains
going back to 7 million year old from
Turgen Hills, Baringo (oldest in
Ethiopia = 4.5 million years ;
S.Africa ca 3 million years, Tanzania
= 2 million years.

Kenya has some of the most
complete skeletons e.g Turkana Boy
(1.6 Million years), which provided a
great wealth of information
regarding early human physiology
than anywhere in the world.

Kenya is endowed with many
prehistory sites scattered all along
the Rift Valley (north to south) and
western Kenya.

Kenya has many earliest ape sites
particularly in western Kenya. These apes are ancestors for earliest
humans. Ethiopia has just a handful
of these earliest sites thus making
Kenya the probable place where
transition from ape-like to human-
like beings occurred.

Kenya has the longest and most
complete record of human evolution
(and possibly the link between
humans and apes).

There is a huge collection in regards
to prehistory finds. Kenya actually
has the largest collection of human
related fossils anywhere in the
world. This collection is well
documented and can be found in
one central place- National Museum of Kenya Headquarters

Not only are all species of hominids
represented but also some other
faunal and plant species that relate
to the evolutionary theory (e.g.
elephants, giraffes, crocodiles and
even the dinosaurs).

In addition to the fossil record,
there is a long record of
technological evolution (with tools as
old as 2.3 million years).
There is a wide environmental
representation (open and closed
sites) in regards to evidence of
fossils and tools. Each region in
Kenya has a story to tell in regards
to the story of human origin. Varied
environments that may have been
instrumental in the evolution of both
humans and other species.

There is a wide genetic
representation among some of its
people (Turkana) pointing to the fact
that humans have been here for a
very long time.

There is a connection with the Far
East through the Red Sea where
humans are believed to have
dispersed from to other regions of
the world.
There is evidence of other factors
that relate to the evolution of
humans (e.g. humanity made fire as
far back as 1.8 Million yrs, footprints at
1.55 million yrs).

The study of human evolution began
in the early 20th century and
continues to present.
Kenya has about 20 Miocene (23.03
million years ago -ma to 5.3 Ma)
sites while Ethiopia has only two at
the moment.

I think the evidence is pretty credible. The Rift Valley especially has most sites and in consideration to the area's local climate, I second that evidence.
Some of the prehistoric sites that have been sources of fossil evidence are ;

Enkapune Ya Muto
Enkorika
Hyrax Hill
Ileret
Kapthurin
Koobi Fora
Ngenyn
Olorgesailie

Numerous fossils and tools collected from these sites are well preserved at the prestigious National Museums of Kenya which are distributed all over Kenya. Headquarters are located within the busy capital -Nairobi.

Aside from the prehistoric sites, Kenya boasts a rich archaeological history that has caught interest of many archaeology tourist especially with a particular interest to study that history. Some of the sites are:

Jumba la Mtwana
Kiongwe
Lamu
Mambrui
Manda Island
Namoratunga
Pate Island
Ruins of Gedi
Takwa

Each of these sites plus many more have a uniquely tasteful history that all together make the country that is Kenya is today. These sites are priceless riches that we should continue guarding for our benefit and generations to come.
Facts source : National Museum of Kenya
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