Palaeontology Section

Palaeontology is the study of fossils; these are preserved remains of ancient life forms and are most commonly found in the form of petrified bones, shells, coprolites, wood, seeds, insects, footprints impressions and leaves (impressions). The NMK Palaeontology Division has one of the most outstanding fossil collection worldwide, and the mammalian fossil collection particularly the hominids draws researchers from all over the world. Being the custodians of Kenya's unparalled and priceless fossil heritage, the Division has continued to protect and conserve this irreplaceable heritage.

Kenya is well known for the many fossil sites found largely within the Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria region. Research in the Palaeontology Division focuses on these sites with a view to reconstruct the evolutionary history of our own and other animal species.

Past climatic and environmental changes led to the evolution of the many different plant and animal species found in East Africa today. Numerous important fossil specimens collected over the years comprise an impressive national collection. The Division is responsible for the documentation of these fossils, the majority of which range in age between twenty and one million years before present. Scientists from all over the world come to study them and learn about the evolutionary history of our own species, Homo sapiens, and the prevailing climates and resultant ecology that provided habitats for plants and animals that lived in this region in the past.

Palynology and Palaeobotany Section

The research activities of this department are focused on the study of the adaptations of prehistoric human cultures of the environment, and ecosystem responses to the past climate change. In order to reconstruct past climates and vegetation patterns the department undertakes research on plant fossils recovered from lake sediments, marsh deposits and prehistoric sites. Pollen analysis remains the main research focus, but to learn more about the various aspects of climate change, researches have broadened the scope to grass cuticles, grass phytoliths and charcoal fragments.
Research on contemporary ecosystem dynamics and land use changes is conducted to provide modern analogs for paloentological interpretations.

Archaeology section

The Archaeology Division houses more than 2,500 archaeology collections including samples from East African sites ranging from the Early Stone Age to the late Iron Age. The collections consist of thousands of faunal remains, potsherds and stone, bone, iron and shell artifacts.
Besides managing the archaeological collections, the Division conducts research and disseminates results through publications, exhibits, public lectures and local and international seminars, workshops and conferences. The division maintains a record of all known archaeological sites in Kenya and mitigates in cultural resource management programmes throughout the country.