Palaeoanthropological research continues at Gona, Central Afar, Ethiopia

WIC Oct 28, 2000

 The Gona international team is undertaking an on-going palaeoanthropological field and laboratory research. The Project is directed by Sileshi Semaw, an Ethiopian archaeologist based at CRAFT, Indiana University, USA. Dr. Semaw was recently in Addis Ababa analyzing newly excavated stone tools discovered from Gona. A discussion with Dr. Semaw about the on-going field and laboratory work has revealed that the new archaeological sites were found in the Ounda Gona catchment, and these are the first 2.5-2.6 million year old archaeological horizons identified c. 10 Km away from the original East Gona area where similar artifacts were excavated in 1992. The East Gona (Kada Gona) and Ounda Gona artifacts are thus far the oldest known from any where in the world and securely dated between 2.5-2.6 million years. During the recent fieldwork the Gona team excavated the new archaeological localities and conducted paleontological survey in the entire study area. The team has so far identified and documented  more than 150 archaeological and paleontological sites. A geology team from the US is working on the basic stratigraphy and dating of the Gona sites.

Systematic and extensive paleontological survey in the last two years has demonstrated for the first time that the fossiliferous sediments at Gona stretch back to 5 million years ago. The field investigation was extremely successful leading to the discovery of three hominid species including a mandible of Ardipithecus ramidus and two partial skulls of the genus Homo. Ardipithecus ramidus is the oldest yet known hominid species dated to 4.5 million years, and it was first identified in the Middle Awash study area which is located south of Gona. Out side of the Middle Awash, this species is known only from the Gona study area. The two Homo skulls are estimated between 2.0-1.0 million years based on associated Early Acheulian handaxes, Oldowan artifacts and fossil fauna.

 The oldest Gona stone artifacts include simple fist-sized cores from which hominids produced sharp-edged flakes. Although without associated excavated artifacts, a recent discovery of stone tool cut-marked animal bones from 2.5 million year old deposits at Bouri, in the Middle Awash, has provided important clues regarding the function of the Gona stone tools. The Bouri evidence suggests that the Gona artifacts were probably used for cutting up animal carcasses. It is also likely that the artifacts may have been used for sharpening digging sticks used for accessing underground stored plants such as tubers. The makers of the tools have yet to be identified at Gona, but the 2.5 million year deposits at Bouri have yielded a new hominid named Australopithecus garhi argued to be the maker and user of the oldest stone artifacts.

 Permit for the Project was issued by the Authority Information and for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CRCCH) of the Ministry of Culture. Semaw and his team continued systematic survey and excavations and their investigations between 1992 and 1994 led to the discovery of the oldest known stone tools in the world. The Gona research team will return back to Gona in January 2001 to continue field and laboratory investigations.