Characterising the archaeological assemblage at the Mukongoro Rock Art Site in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Despite the documentation of rock art sites in Uganda, little is known about their archaeological assemblage. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to characterise the archaeological assemblage at the Mukongoro Rock Art site in Kumi district, eastern Uganda. Specifically, the study intended (1) to examine the typological characteristics of the archaeological materials at Mukongoro, (2) explaining the technological attributes of the artefacts, and (3) to establish the chronological sequence at Mukongoro. The study employed quantitative and qualitative research approaches, integrating primary and secondary data collection methods such as; archaeological surveys, excavation, oral interviews, archival research, and desktop surveys. Cultural materials, including lithics, pottery, iron slags, charcoal, tuyere fragments, and daub, were recovered during the study. Bipolar technology, direct and indirect percussion, dominated the lithic assemblage and produced small flakes predominantly out of quartz. Most decorated ceramics displayed the roulette technique, while metallurgical remains portray smithing. The chronology of the assemblage spans from the Later Stone Age (LSA) to the Later Iron Age (LIA). The LIA was in the uppermost arbitrary levels (1-4), while typical LSA lithics were recovered from arbitrary levels of 5-22. Based on the relative dates, hunter-gatherers most likely occupied the site before 6000BP and abandoned it, and it was re-settled during the 15th Century A.D by iron-using communities.