Nabta Playa is a 7000 years old astronomical stone circle in Southern Egypt, bordering Sudan. Most precisely, it is in the Nubian Desert 30 kilometres away from today's Egyptian-Sudanese border.

Nabta Playa in Southern Egypt

 

The term Nabta Playa means "Calendar Circle" eluding to the use of the megaliths arranged in a circle. Over 7000 years ago, ancient Nubian builders were tracking the shift of important stars such as Sirius and stars of the Orion's belt. In order to do so, ancient societies erected massive stone circles, aligning them with the Sun and Stars. Ancient societies were deeply spiritual and connected to the earth and the celestial world.

These early calendars foretold the coming of spring, summer, fall and winter, helpting civilizations track when to plant and harvest crops. As the Sahara region became desertic, Nubian nomadic societies travelled to more fertile regions for survival and stone circles continued spreading. They are found across Africa and other parts of the world, such as Stonehenge in England, pointing to African Cultural influence in ancient societies.

Stonehenge in England

 

The Lokori Pillar Site in Turkana Land in Northern Kenya dates back 4500 and is one of the oldest of these stone circles. 

The Lokori Pillar Site in Turkana, Kenya

 

In The Gambia and Senegal, 93 stone circles were found dating back as early as 3rd century BC, along 350km of the River Gambia. 

Senegambia stone circles

 

Another notable site is Gedeo Zone in Ethiopia, which is home to Africa's largest number of stone stelae dating back from 1100 AD to 50 BC.

Gedeo stone circles, Ethiopia

 

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