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Notes on the Jarigole Pillar Site
Jarigole (GbJj1) Site Plan. VIEW ENLARGED MAP.
Structural Components at Jarigole
1. The map above shows the structural components of the Jarigole Pillar site: (a) the curb or collar, (b) the platform contained by the curb, (c) the low mound which is off-center on the platform, (d) the central pit beneath the mound revealed by excavation, (e) the pillars on the southeast side of the mound, (f) the cairn in the center of the mound which is possibly of recent origin, and (g) recent alteration of the pillars and their environs, and (h) modifications, such as cribs, that are associated with an adjacent, recent pastoral camp.
The photo to the left looks roughly SSE across the platform to a bench that was created when Lake Turkana was at its overflow level. Beach deposits created as the Lake receded are seen in the foreground, where two pillar fragments have been dragged out al little beyond the cobble curb at the edge of the platform. The platform, which holds moisture better than the surrounding beach, is covered with browning grass and studded with the bases of pillars.
2. Figures 2 through 6 are of secondary features at the Jarigole Pillar Site. Other secondary features involving pillars are discussed in the PILLAR GALLERY.
Pictured here are the remains of a crib for baby goats from a pastoral encampment in Jarigole Laga dating from 1964. When in use it would have been topped with brush or wood. Compare this pictue with the ones below.
3. Remains of a goat crib from the pastoral encampment adjacent to the Jarigole Pillar site. Notice the pillar fragments that have been removed from the site and incorporated into the base of the crib.
4. Remains of the second goat crib from the pastoral encampment adjacent to the Jarigole Pillar site. Notice the pillar fragments that have been removed from the site and incorporated into the base of the crib.
5. Preparing to plot the flakes and debris created by the manufacture of a stone tool on the outskirts of the modern pastoral encampment adjacent to the Jarigole Pillar site.
6. Close-up showing three of the flakes in the scatter. Look for the unweathered black basalt. It is the unweathered condition of the flakes that suggests they are associated with the modern pastoral encampment and not the pillar site at Jarigole.
7. The cobble curb on the SE margin of the Jarigole Pillar site. Grass and other plants prefer the microenvironment the curb provides because its large cobbles sequester water on their undersides.
8. The red and yellow flags mark flags mark surface finds of interest immediately adjacent to the curb on the NW margin of the Jarigole Pillar site. Material of interest includes numerous flaked stone artefacts, common pieces of white stone that have been transported to the site, occasional pot sherds and infrequent ostrich egg-shell beads.
9. Typical patch of gravel within the curb at the margin of the central mound. Can you spot the pot sherd?
10. Close-up showing a sherd of Nderit ware on the surface at the margin of the central mound at the Jarigole Pillar site. Enlargement from the lower left quadrant of the picture above.
11. Beginning excavation of a one meter test pit in the platform at the Jarigole Pillar site. The test pit is near the curb in the southeastern portion of the platform.
12. Distribution of larger cobbles in the platform fill as revealed in a one meter test pit at the Jarigole Pillar site.
13. Stratigraphic cross section through the platform at the Jarigole Pillar site. Poorly sorted platform debris at the top overlying a "bluish" layer of beach gravel that contains Melanoides shells. The beach has been developed on a poorly sorted, fine gravel alluvium that contains very occasional artefacts.
14. One meter stratigraphic cross section from the upper portion of the central mound at the Jarigole Pillar site. There is a pit on the right-hand side that has been filled with very large cobbles.
15. Close-up of stratigraphic section in the central mound showing pot sherds in situ.
16. Stratigraphic section near the margin of the central mound at the Jarigole Pillar site showing the edge of the central pit area. At the left where the scale rests, there is a wedge of in tact alluvium exposed . You can see where this has been cut through by a pit that is filled with reworked alluvium and cobbles. Then, at the right, there is another intrusive pit lined with large cobbles.
17. Looking north from the center of the central mound at the main excavation. The large cobbles were most likely placed in burial pits to protect the graves.
18. Another view of the same feature. The next photograph shows what lies beneath the cobbles at the lower right of this feature.
19. A tightly flexed burial found beneath the rocks seen in the photograph above. The skull is at the lower left; limb bones at the upper right. This grave is probably (but not certainly) from a period more recent than the construction and main use of the site.
20. Ear ornaments found with the burial seen above. These were the only associated artefacts.
21. Triangulation using the three site datums at the Jarigole Pillar site.
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