Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana)
Namoratunga N Pillar
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE)·Late Neolithic Atlantic·🇰🇪 Rift Valley, Turkana, Namoratunga, Kenya
About
About Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana)
Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana) in Rift Valley, Turkana, Namoratunga, Kenya is a Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE) megalithic attributed to Late Neolithic Atlantic. Systematic survey and coring document ceramic seriation. The site includes a principal platform and domestic quarter. Dimensions chamber 4.2 m × 2.8 m; mound 18 m diameter; area 4.5 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition ruins. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Late Neolithic Atlantic megalithic with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 500 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Function and labor organization
Theories
- 01Elite residence hypothesis
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000–2500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE)
- Culture
- Late Neolithic Atlantic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial tomb and territorial marker
- Rediscovered
- 2013
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 3000–2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 809 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1957
Modern rediscovery and excavation
c. 1536 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
3.7000° N · 36.3000° E · 500 m · 4 mapped features
Principal Chamber
chamberPrincipal Chamber at Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana) — chamber with stratified deposits
3.6983° N · 36.3009° EPeripheral Kerb Segment
kerbPeripheral Kerb Segment at Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana) — kerb with stratified deposits
3.6976° N · 36.2989° EOutlier Menhir
standing stoneOutlier Menhir at Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana) — standing stone with stratified deposits
3.6997° N · 36.2984° EAncillary Cairn
cairnAncillary Cairn at Namoratunga II — North Pillar Alignment (Turkana) — cairn with stratified deposits
3.7011° N · 36.3020° E