Archaeologists have called for enhanced efforts to protect Mount Hora archaeological site in Mzimba following the discovery of a 9 500-year-old cremation pyre that has drawn international attention to Malawi’s ancient history.
The discovery, believed to be the oldest confirmed intentional cremation in Africa, has highlighted the country’s archaeological heritage prompting calls to safeguard the site which now reveals evidence of early human life.
Speaking after a roundtable discussion on the research in Lilongwe, Yale University paleoathropologist Jessica Thompson who led the efforts, said the discovery made during excavations conducted with the Department of Museums and Monuments shows that Mount Hora has been an important cultural landscape for thousands of years, where ancient communities conducted funeral ceremonies and other cultural practices.
“We encountered a rare and special finding, the remains of an ancient woman who had been cremated in a large fire approximately 10 000 years ago. We were not expecting anything like this, but it clearly shows that the Mount Hora area has long been an important cultural place,” she said.
Thomson noted Malawi is an archaeological landscape and that there is archaeology everywhere saying these discoveries are important as they tell us about the lives of people who lived here thousands of years ago.
She said the archaeological site is under direct threat everyday from environmental changes and human activities, mainly because many people do not understand the historical importance.
“We have to explain what archaeology is, why it matters and why these sites deserve protection. Once people understand their value, they will help preserve them,” said Thomson.
University of Oklahoma associate professor Jessica Cerezo-Román, a paleoathropologist said human remains hold valuable information that can help researchers understand how ancient societies lived and organised their communities.
She said careful scientific analysis of bones can reveal a person’s sex, age, health and burial practices, helping researchers reconstruct life thousands of years ago.
Said Cerezo-Roman: “There is still a lot of knowledge hidden in Malawi’s ancient human remains. We need trained specialists to study them and bring those stories to life and it’s important that they are protected.
“This is just the beginning of this story. And as we analyse, more human remains, we will complete this beautiful picture of how life was 9 500 years ago.”
Department of Museums and Monuments deputy director responsible for conservation Blessings Walawala said government is strengthening legal protection for the archaeological site by listing and gazetting it as a protected monument.
“We need to explain these discoveries in languages people understand so they appreciate the heritage they have and become partners in protecting it,” said Walawala.
He warned that some people damage archaeological sites after hearing about major discoveries because they wrongly believe valuable objects are buried there.
