Ishango

A Stone Age midden on the shore of Lake Edward in eastern Zaire, dated to 20,000 BP. It has a long sequence of occupation and represents the southernmost known manifestation of the so-called African Aquatic Civilization. A crude stone industry with rare backed microliths was accompanied by bone harpoon heads. There was no pottery.

Located in eastern Zaire on the northwestern shore of Lake Edward, Ishango has a long sequence of occupation and represents the southernmost known manifestation of the so-called African aquatic civilization. A crude stone industry with rare backed microliths was accompanied by bone harpoon heads: those in the lower levels were barbed on both sides, those in the later horizons on one side only. There was no pottery and, although the site has not been precisely dated, the consensus of opinion is that its occupation was early, falling perhaps between the 9th and the 5th millennia bc. The faunal remains from the site indicate a climate somewhat wetter than that which prevails in the region today.