EVOLVTION Collection Preview

1 EVOLVTION - Lake Lavigne Boy

As one of the most complete and well-preserved fossils ever found, Lake Lavigne Boy exhibits similarities to modern man unlike few others. Its discovery in 1984 was staggering—threatening decades old theories of classical evolution. If the fossil was truly 1.9 million years old (as most paleontologists agree), then that would mean no evolution had occurred in just as many years.

2 EVOLVTION - Pleistocene

It is quite possible that Turkana Boy might have suffered from a congenital disorder such as scoliosis or dwarfism. In one fossil reconstruction, the rib bones are asymmetrical to the spine, a symptom common of skeletal dysplasia. In another study, the rib bones were found to be in alignment with the spine in a structural composition unique to early hominins.

Regardless of Turkana Boy’s cause of death, it is without challenge that the fossil sustained some form of injury which led to its death.  

 

3 EVOLVTION - Cranium

A defining feature of Turkana Boy is the fossil’s larger brain size, which had a volumetric measurement of 880 cc. The skull suggests a projected nose similar to that of homo sapiens, but a low, sloping forehead and prominent brow unlike contemporary humans.

 

4 EVOLVTION - Achulean

Between 2011 and 2014, several Kenyan stone tools were found at Lake Turkana. The tools are dated to be 3.3 million years old—a date which corresponds with the Pliocene hominin fossils such as Lucy.

 

5 EVOLVTION - Museum of Humankind in Kenya

According to bone maturity rates, paleoanthropologists Alan Walker and Ricard Leakey estimate Turkana Boy to have been between 11 and 12 years old at death. Dental dating, however, can give a much different interpretation of a person’s age.

 

6 EVOLVTION - Fossil Discoveries

The Museum of Humankind in Kenya will be the premier showcase of over two million years of human history. Along with an exploration of the origins of our universe, Dr. Richard Leakey’s life work will be on full display, walking museum-goers through the course of human evolution.

 

LAMU Collection Preview

1 LAMU - Golden Age

When looking at the history of Lamu, it is easy to think that the golden age from the 17th to 19th century was an isolated event. But the island actually was founded in the 12th century, and for centuries the region became a melting pot of culture, art and trade.

2 LAMU - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Since the 2001 designation of Lamu as a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the popularity of the island has increased exponentially, leading to increased tourism in Eastern Africa.

 

3 LAMU - Economy

Centuries ago, Lamu was highly dependent on slavery as a means to economical growth. More recently, the island has sought to establish itself for what it is—a destination of diverse cultures and vivid art.

 

4 LAMU- Riyadha Mosque

Habib Salih was a highly respected Sharif and religious teacher who settled in Lamu in the 1880s. There he built the Riyadha mosque and introduced Habshi Maulidi—a singing of religious passages honoring the Prophet Mohamed. 

Maulidi is an annual festival which continues to be held the last week of the Prophet’s birth month.  

 

5 LAMU - UNESCO

As one of the most ancient yet well-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa, Lamu Old Town is an invaluable center of Ismalic and Swahili cultures. Since the 19th century, the island has hosted many important Muslim festivals.