Stone as a Guide：China-Kenya Joint Archaeology in My Eyes

    The golden sunset glows radiantly, with towering and solitary acacia trees standing tall, eagles circling leisurely in the sky, and massive cacti stretching endlessly, all combining to form the unique image of East Africa. These scenes complement the stone tools hidden beneath the scorching sand and gravel, as this cradle of early human origins still exudes vibrant vitality to this day. These “special stones” are among the primary objectives of the Chinese archaeological team’s expedition. Held gently in their hands and examined closely, the crisscrossing yet inherently patterned scars on the stones silently narrate a story of human survival and reproduction throughout the long evolutionary history.

A Fortune One On the Journey of Archaeology

    Since the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage and the National Museums of Kenya signed a cooperation framework agreement in 2014, this year marks the fifth year of the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeology Project. Bolstered by a series of major national cooperation frameworks—including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and this year’s Joint Statement Between China and Kenya on Creating an Inspiring Example in the All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era—the project has progressed smoothly and steadily. In 2024, the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeology Seminar was successfully held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, where the two parties renewed their cooperation agreement for another five years.

    This year marks my second participation in the project. Seeing familiar Kenyan teammates at the excavation site filled me with a sense of familiarity and warmth. Recalling the days before and after my first trip to Kenya in 2023, I still feel profoundly grateful for my good fortune. Shortly after confirming my employment at the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology that year, Professor Zhao Qingpo, the on-site leader of the Chinese team for the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeology Project, asked if I would like to join the archaeological mission to Kenya. “One of the ‘cradles of humanity’, the site of the earliest stone tool discoveries, an almost complete human evolutionary history, a treasure trove of human origin and evolution”—key phrases about Kenya from textbooks kept popping into my mind. “Could such a distant place suddenly become within reach?” As a Paleolithic archaeologist, I had no hesitation in accepting this extraordinary opportunity. With national policy support, a sacred site for paleoanthropological research, and a well-established team structure, these form the perfect conditions. Then, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, the Luoyang Municipal Institute of Archaeology, and the National Museums of Kenya jointly formed the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeological Team. In 2023, the team made remarkable discoveries, which were honored with the “Overseas Archaeological Discovery of 2023” at the “Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Archaeology Forum”.

    On September 21, 2025, with the same team members, the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeological Team arrived at the Lake Bogoria Site in Baringo County, Kenya, kicking off the archaeological work for the year.

A Leaner in the China-Kenya Archaeological Project

    This is my second time participating in the project, and many changes have been taking place subtly. If I had to use one word to summarize the China-Kenya archaeological project, it would undoubtedly be “learning”. The learning through communication permeates daily work with our Kenyan teammates.

    Field surveys often require navigating through thorny bushes and cacti, where proper paths are almost nonexistent. A careless turn can easily lead to getting lost. Therefore, in addition to carrying essential high-precision positioning devices, we always team up with local Kenyan members. In the wilderness, they are the best guides. They not only identify directions accurately but also explain the flora and fauna along the way. A cactus as tall as two meters takes seven years to grow; the small holes in the ground by the roadside are actually squirrel dens; sweat bees attracted by human perspiration hide in the cracks of tree trunks; the ants that always make their homes in acacia trees actually have a symbiotic relationship with the trees; and the euphorbia trees, which look like green chopsticks, serve as natural toothbrushes for the local people... These vivid African nature lessons add immense interest to the hiking surveys under the scorching sun.

    Whenever stone tools are discovered, we discuss their raw material characteristics or manufacturing techniques with our Kenyan teammates. Occasionally, when Kenyan members collect easily confused “pseudo-stone tools,” they become the best teaching specimens. Zhao Qingpo, the on-site leader of the Chinese team in the China-Kenya Joint Archaeological Project, provides detailed explanations to all members on distinguishing artificially chipped stone artifacts from naturally formed “pseudo-stone tools.” The Kenyan teammates always study with great earnestness, calling us from afar as soon as they make a discovery. At such moments, Chinese and Kenyan members learn from each other, making the exchange span from nature to history.

    At Locality 10 of the Lake Bogoria Site, after agreeing on the specific excavation area and work tasks for the year, Zhao Qingpo, the Chinese team leader, and Emmanuel Ndima, the Kenyan team leader, divided the members of the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeological Team into four working groups. The groups were assigned to separate responsibilities: collecting surface artifacts in the site area, laying out excavation squares, setting up sieving zones, and labeling artifacts. Everyone worked busily yet in an orderly manner, with significantly improved efficiency compared to the start of the previous excavation.

    As part of the artifact collection group, I collaborated closely with Kenyan team members. I taught them how to use high-precision positioning devices to locate stone tools, while they instructed me on quickly identifying the species of animal fossils mixed in loess and calcareous concretions. After a period of adjustment, our cooperation became increasingly seamless. Curious about the Chinese language, Kenyan teammates often practiced pronouncing words like “huàshí (fossil)” and “shípiàn (stone flake)” with slightly awkward pronunciation, their attempts echoing with laughter at the excavation site.

    It seems that music and dance talent are inherent in the DNA of African people. The scenes in which they dance with music when their emotions are high are often seen. Kenyan and Chinese team members would often sit on the ground while working, engaging in cheerful and relaxed conversations without pausing their tasks, which is a slightly different approach from that found at archaeological sites in China. Every morning greeting and every smile exchanged during work allowed me to deeply comprehend the true meaning of “One should value not only one’s own culture, but also the cultures of others, and this will contribute to the flourishing of all cultures,” through China-Kenya cooperation.

An Inquirer of Human Origin and Evolution

    In 2023, when I first set foot on the land of East Africa, I was like a curious observer. I followed the team’s orders to fulfill my duties methodically, yet harbored a sense of confusion. This year, I have begun to think more proactively about what we are doing, what we can do, and why we are doing it.

    The origin and evolution of humankind resemble a towering tree with luxuriant branches. On the stage of species evolution, numerous hominids emerged and then faded away over millions of years, with only Homo sapiens surviving and thriving to this day. The brief figures on paper actually represent a long and intricate chapter of human history. The stone artifacts crafted by archaic humans are vital clues amid the vicissitudes of time. Driven by the desire to answer the fundamental questions of who we are and where we come from, we have journeyed to Kenya to trace the footprints of ancient humans, and thus, we started the China-Kenya Joint Paleolithic Archaeology Project.

    Since 2017, the joint archaeological team has surveyed and identified over 60 Paleolithic localities in the vicinity of Lakes Baringo and Bogoria. The team has excavated and collected nearly 10,000 stone artifacts, obtaining a wealth of extremely precious firsthand archaeological materials. The next step is to extract information from the stone tools to analyze and interpret ancient humans’ behaviors, subsistence strategies, environmental adaptability, and more. Our expectation is the same as what Professor Gao Xing, the renowned expert in Paleolithic archarology say, “When we compile and synthesize all this information, a magnificent scene of humans marching resolutely out of Africa toward distant lands one million years ago will unfold before our eyes.”

    A cloud of dust swirled over the excavation site, while a group of local children ranging in age from little ones to older kids slid down the loess slope as if they were on a slide. Though the excavation site was far from residential areas, children would always come to watch whenever the archaeological work got underway. Seeing the team collecting stones from the ground, the kids eagerly followed suit, scrambling to pick up stones of their own. We would show them the basic identifying features of stone tools and encourage them to search for such pieces; those who found the right ones would cheer with delight and grow even more enthusiastic. Emmanuel Ndima, the Kenyan project leader, even brought specially prepared illustrated archaeological booklets to give to the older children. Perhaps one day, the seeds of curiosity sown today will bloom into the flowers of intellectual inquiry, and some of these children will grow up wondering about the origins of their ancestors who once walked this land, becoming inquirers of human origin and evolution.

Author: Peng Shenglan, Lou Wentai, Gu Xuejun, Zhao Qingpo

Forwarded from: China Cultural Relics News

Translated by: Xin Xu