
Explore the Map
Lomekwi
3.8742° N, 35.7508° E
About
Lomekwi is an archaeological site located on the west bank of Turkana Lake in Kenya. It is an important milestone in the history of human archaeology. An archaeological team from Stony Brook University in the United States discovered traces of Lomekwi by chance in July 2011, and made substantial progress four years after in-depth excavations. Artifacts excavated from Lomekwi date back to 3.3 million years ago, completely overturning the history of human use and tool making and advancing it by about 500,000 years. Its appearance, the most conspicuous among these cultural relics is a large stone tool with obvious traces of human processing. It looks like a cutting board, but its exact purpose is not clear yet. The artifacts from Lomekwi have a unique production method and are an independent production style. The archaeological team calls it Lomekwian. These tools, which are not highly processed, completely distinguish Australopithecus from other primates, and it is highly likely that ancient humans already had basic cognitive abilities.
Gallery
Explore photographs of ancient structures, artifacts, and archaeological excavations

Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Gona comparison
2.6 million years ago
Tools dated
3.3 million years ago
Conference presentation
April 14, 2015
Journal publication
May 21, 2015
Chance discovery
July 2011
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Industrial and Craft Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
More Sites in Kenya

Koobi Fora
Region with early hominin fossils and tools

Panga ya Saidi
Kenyan cave with multi-period archaeological deposits

Olorgesailie
Acheulean hand axes and hominin remains.

Nataruk
Prehistoric site with evidence of violence
Enkapune Ya Muto
Rock shelter with Middle to Late Stone Age artifacts
Ruins of Gedi
Medieval Swahili town with stone structures.