Limbo: Early Iron-working in south-eastern Tanzania

Abstract

This report on fieldwork and excavations undertaken in 1987 establishes the Limbo site in the Early Iron Age tradition of East Africa on account of pottery with Kwale affinities, and reveals iron-working activities there in the early part of the first millennium AD. A latter Iron Age tradition is also attested, probably dating about the end of the same millenium or the beginning of the second millennium. The latter period is distinguished by undecorated pottery similar to that recovered from period II at Kilwa