The ‘Ancient Dams’ of Tanganyika Masailand

Summary A description is presented of the so-called ‘dams’ of the northern Tanzania highlands and their invariable association with cattle-tracks is noted. Previous views have held that these ‘dams’ were either constructed to hold water for cattle or that they are caused by natural erosion. An excavation of a ‘dam’ in the Kimba valley, Ngorongoro, failed to reveal any sign of human work. Comparable structures in this and other areas are now best considered to be ‘pseudo-dams’ formed by erosion brought about by the use of cattle-tracks on the slopes of the valleys.