High resolution multi-proxy analyses document Mid to Late-Holocene environmental change in arid Marsabit County, northern Kenya, East Africa

A detailed reconstruction of Mid to Late-Holocene environmental changes in arid Marsabit County, northern Kenya, reveals a transition from variable freshwater and saline lake conditions to more consistent shallow wetlands. High-resolution multi-proxy analyses, including pollen, plant macrofossils, diatoms, and chemical data, document fluctuating water conductivity (200–>20,000 μS cm⁻¹) and pH (7.5–11.5), indicating intermittent desiccation and ecological shifts. The study highlights a broad trend toward aridity after ~4650 BP, punctuated by brief wetter periods, with fire activity peaking around 3100 years ago before declining. These findings provide critical insights into the environmental context of early pastoralism in East Africa's lowlands adjacent to Lake Turkana.

Muiruri, V., Courtney-Mustaphi, C., Marchant, R., Nkirote M’Mbogori, F., Minya, A., & Lane, P. J. (2026). High resolution multi-proxy analyses document Mid to Late-Holocene environmental change in arid Marsabit County, northern Kenya, East Africa. The Holocene, 36(7), 729–745. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261432467