Research on the provenance of a skull from East Africa and on a lost document collection (Lothar von Trotha Collection)

A human skull originating from the former colony German East Africa (GEA) from Lothar von Trotha’s estate was found in the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum’s depot. This research project aspired to clarify the identity and origin of the deceased. The project work was based on Trotha’s diary from GEA, not accessible to research to date. About 2000 handwritten pages were completely deciphered and partially transcribed.
Although no direct references to the deceased have been found, four hypotheses could be put forward regarding the location of the presumed grave robbery and the identity of the deceased. Firstly, the human skull might have been stolen from a burial site near Rumonge in southern Burundi. The second possibility is that it came from a cave on the island of Bussira (Musira/Musila) in north-western Tanzania or – this is the third hypothesis – from the island of Kisiwa cha Toten off Tanga in north-eastern Tanzania. Fourthly, it cannot be ruled out for the skull to have come from a hitherto completely unknown location. Since the human skull in question was not mentioned in Trotha’s records, which cover only his time of service in GEA, it is also possible for it to have come into Trotha’s possession only after his return to Germany.

(c) Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum