ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN UGANDA
Archaeological sites in Uganda : Uganda is a top tourist destination situated in East Africa, Uganda is referred to as the pearl of Africa not just for show but because it is was divinely gifted with numerous spectacular attractions which are so attractive and breathing taking. Among the fascinating attractions in Uganda include archeological sites, archeological sites are places which harbor evidence to the past activities and moments. These sites preserve prehistorical, historical and contemporary events and items of the past, these sites are evidence to stone and Iron Age period.
Uganda has many archeological sites situated in different locations of the country, these sites are open to visitors for education purposes, research purposes and tourism purposes. Archeological sites in Uganda include.
Bigo bya mugyenyi archeological earthworks
Bigo bya mugyenyi archeological earthworks is an extensive alignment of ditches and berms situated in western Uganda in the interlacustrine region, this site of 10 square kilometers is said to have been created by the bachwezi demi gods as a way of protecting their eastern region of their empire from intruders. Bigo bya Mugenyi site derives its name from a local slag Bigo bya mugyenyi which means fort of the stranger, this site is said to have been used as a capital to Bigo a Chwezi emperor wamala during the end of his reign. When you visit this beautiful site you will be browned by spectacular features at this site, the site is made up of many ditches of approximately 5 meters deep, 3 mounds that are associated with the central enclosure that is 2 within and one in the west. There is also two elements in the site, one element is along irregular ditch and bank alignment made up of multiple openings, these openings create an outer boundary by connecting to katonga river in the east and kikanga swamp in the west. The second element is made up of a central interconnected group of four irregular shaped ditched, a bank enclosure and a single ditch which connects it to river katonga river.
Nyero rock painting
Nyero rock paintings are the most significant rock art in Uganda and the best place for any archelogy and human prehistory interested individuals, Nyero rock painting is situated in the eastern region of Uganda in Kumi district. These rock paintings dating back to 1250 CE is attributed to the ancient batwa who are said to be responsible for the rock paintings, the type of rock painting in Nyero rock painting site is part of a homogenous traditional which is often depicted in red pigment. This kind of painting is evidenced to spread across east, central and parts of South Africa matching the distribution of the late Stone Age hunter gatherer culture.
Nyero rock painting site consists of three discrete panels with each lieing about 100 meters from each other, among these panels the most impressive one is panel two covering a 6 meters high rock face which is reached using a narrow cleft between two immense boulders. While at this site 40 sets of red concentric circles are either partially or wholly visible, the most exciting paint in this site is the painting of three zebras at the top right and the two large canoes. One of the canoe painting is about 1.5 meters long and is seen carrying people.
Nsongezi rock shelter
Nsongezi rock shelter is a Stone Age site and a Neolithic site situated in western Uganda with mbarara as the nearest town, this site is said to belong to Wilton culture who occupied lands of southern and eastern African in the late Stone Age. Other legendary stories and theories claim that the site was occupied by Teso people, other theories assert that the occupants were related to sans famously known as Bushmen. The rock shelter is an important Stone Age site and very appreciated in Uganda, this site lieing along river kagera neighboring kansyoke island dates back to around AD 1000 in 19th century. When you visit Nsongezi rock shelter you will encounter ancient man made items which were used to perform different roles such as fragments of clay pots, pieces of stone against flint, spearhead, arrow points and many more as one of the Archaeological sites in Uganda.
Garama caves
Garama caves are one of the fascinating attraction found in mgahinga national park in Kisoro and can be visited while on a safari in this amazing national park, garama caves are a site of 342 meters long and 14 meters deep lieing beneath a plateau in northern edge of mgahinga national park just 3 kilometers from Ntebeko. Garama caves are said to have been formed as a result of lava process.
Historically Garama caves were occupied by the ancient batwa people, the batwa people are known to be the ancient occupants of the thick forests of southern western Uganda. Unfortunately as these forests were gazetted as national parks in an attempt of protecting the highly endangered mountain gorillas they were force fully evicted from the forest. The batwa people used the garama caves as a council chamber and a cover at times of war and raids with their neighbors.
When visiting mgahinga national park garama caves can be explored while on a nature walk experience as they are situated 3 kilometers from the park’s entrance.
Semwama hill caves
Semwama hill caves are highly valued caves by local people and great tourist attraction situated in kakumiro district in western Uganda beneath a flat topped rock outcrop, legendary stories attributes the caves to bachwezi the demi god people. It is said that the Chwezi people used Semwama hill caves as shelter for their cattle and as a traditional shrine, it also said that the cave was used as a chamber to held meeting between Kateboha of musa and his council members that is elders and advisors as one of the Archaeological sites in Uganda.
Semwama hill caves is made up of many caves but the easily accessed cave is consist of 2 main chambers locally referred to as ebidongobo, these chambers are also referred to as waiting areas which are sometimes used as an overnight shelter for animals by local people. Upon your visit at Semwama hills caves you encounter a main chamber which was used for meetings with Kateboha sitting above his council members on a flat slab of stone, there is also succession of rock chimneys and a vertical rock face at the top of the hill.
Munsa earthworks
Munsa earthworks are the second largest rocks in Uganda situated in the south-eastern part of bunyoro in kakumiro district, these rocks are very extra ordinary earthworks as they are made enclosed with in a chain of ancient ditches. Munsa earthworks are commonly recognized by Bikegete a rocky hill and the formation of these hills dates back to the period of1400-1650 AD, the formation of these earthworks is still uncertain but most legendary stories link it to the bachwezi demi gods. Upon visiting Munsa earth works you will encounter a granite outcrop with rock shelters Bikegete hill, a series of ditches which vary in depth that is from 10 to 15 feet and width of 6 to 10 feet. Trenches include trench A the inner most trench which surrounds Bikegete hill, trench C the out most ditch which was used a defense feature to protect the caves from the invasion of intruders and trench B which was used for cultivation and rearing of livestock as one of the Archaeological sites in Uganda.
Ntusi earthworks
Ntusi earthworks is a very unique earth when compared to other earthworks as it consists of no ditch system, instead it has a vast basin which is enclosed by stacks/dams. These stacks are said to be older than most of the ditch systems found at sites of earth works in Uganda, stacks are locally identified as male and female and according to research and excavations it indicates that the stacks are made up of enormous pile of bones, skeletons, pottery fragments and animal wastes. These stacks are huge refuse heaps which are said to have been deposited over 300 years ago, Ntusi earthworks derives its name from a local word meaning mounds. When you visit this site you will encounter several scraped depressions around the village with the largest depression Bwogero depression being 20 meters deep, Bwogero depression lies 150 meters away from a male mound and is said to probably being part of an extensive irrigation system according to traces also as one of the Archaeological sites in Uganda.
Traveling to Uganda for Uganda Safaris will unveil all these amazing treasured sites to you and you will also learn and appreciate their extraordinary form.
