As global archaeological studies of cremation increasingly integrate detailed methodology alongside mortuary theory, case studies from sedentary, agricultural societies – most commonly from Europe and North America - still dominate. This paper examines the earliest known cremation tradition from Africa, associated with a period termed the Pastoral Neolithic c. 3300–1200 BP, at the sites of Njoro River Cave, Keringet Cave, and Noomparrua Nkosesia in Kenya. These burial sites contained remains of multiple cremated individuals in settings of caves and subterranean cavities. Using bioarchaeological and contextual analyses, this paper presents site-specific chaînes opératoires to explore variability in funerary processes. Shared traits including the rocky, secluded environments and patterning of ochre staining demonstrate the potential maintenance and transmission of fundamental aspects of cremation ritual knowledge by different mobile communities throughout the Pastoral Neolithic.

随着全球火葬考古研究越来越多地将详细方法与太平间理论相结合，来自久坐不动的农业社会（最常见于欧洲和北美）的案例研究仍然占主导地位。本文考察了已知最早的非洲火葬传统，该传统与称为“新石器时代田园”的时期有关。3300–1200 BP，在肯尼亚的 Njoro 河洞穴、Keringet 洞穴和 Noomparrua Nkosesia 遗址。这些墓地在洞穴和地下洞穴的环境中包含多个火化个体的遗骸。本文使用生物考古学和背景分析，介绍了特定地点的歌剧院探索葬礼过程中的可变性。包括岩石、隐蔽环境和赭石染色图案在内的共同特征表明，在整个新石器时代，不同的流动社区可能维护和传播火葬仪式知识的基本方面。