KERIO VIEW
Rondinin
Rondinin lies in the hot dry country between the Tugen hills and Lake
Baringo. It is a steep 10 km walk (or drive) from Kipsaraman. It owes its
existence to a spring of water that recharges only very slowly in the long
dry season.The economy centres around goats which are sold in the
highlands or transported to Eldama Ravine and Nakuru.
Rondinin's chief claim to fame is that it is the nearest centre to Kapsomin,
one of three close locations where fossil bones of the hominid Orrorin
tugenensis have been discovered. Based on the dating of the white
sedimentary deposits in which the fossils were found, O.tugenensis is
estimated at 6 million years ----- which would make it very, very much
older than other hominids such as "Lucy" or "Turkana Boy". Needless to
say, the analysis and interpretation of these finds has been controversial.
The main issue is whether they are truly hominid, always debatable in the
absence of sufficient cranial remains.
All except one of the fossil specimens were found in 2000. It is hoped and
greatly expected that more will eventually be found, as the outcroppings
and exposures of the white "Lukeino" sediments are numerous and
scattered widely about Rondonin ------ as is evident when one looks down
on the area from the vantage point of the Tugen Hills.
The fossilised remains of numerous other extinct species, from the very
huge to the very small, some in abundance, permeate the Lukeino stratum.
They point to this region once being a fertile, well-watered land on the
shores of one or more lakes; a land capable of supporting elephants, giant
rhinos and large carnivorous mammals.
Six million years later, its a very different place. It is semi-arid and
supports a very limited fauna. The largest herbivore is probably the ostrich
(or domesticated camel) and the largest carnivore undoubtedly H. sapiens.
Baringo. It is a steep 10 km walk (or drive) from Kipsaraman. It owes its
existence to a spring of water that recharges only very slowly in the long
dry season.The economy centres around goats which are sold in the
highlands or transported to Eldama Ravine and Nakuru.
Rondinin's chief claim to fame is that it is the nearest centre to Kapsomin,
one of three close locations where fossil bones of the hominid Orrorin
tugenensis have been discovered. Based on the dating of the white
sedimentary deposits in which the fossils were found, O.tugenensis is
estimated at 6 million years ----- which would make it very, very much
older than other hominids such as "Lucy" or "Turkana Boy". Needless to
say, the analysis and interpretation of these finds has been controversial.
The main issue is whether they are truly hominid, always debatable in the
absence of sufficient cranial remains.
All except one of the fossil specimens were found in 2000. It is hoped and
greatly expected that more will eventually be found, as the outcroppings
and exposures of the white "Lukeino" sediments are numerous and
scattered widely about Rondonin ------ as is evident when one looks down
on the area from the vantage point of the Tugen Hills.
The fossilised remains of numerous other extinct species, from the very
huge to the very small, some in abundance, permeate the Lukeino stratum.
They point to this region once being a fertile, well-watered land on the
shores of one or more lakes; a land capable of supporting elephants, giant
rhinos and large carnivorous mammals.
Six million years later, its a very different place. It is semi-arid and
supports a very limited fauna. The largest herbivore is probably the ostrich
(or domesticated camel) and the largest carnivore undoubtedly H. sapiens.
| The well at Rondinin |
| A talk with the village leaders |
| The Tugen Hills near Kipsaraman ---- the source of Rondinin's water |
| The rocky walk down to Rondinin from Kipsaraman |
