jump to the content
Advanced search

Konso-Gardula (paleo-anthropological site)

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Ethiopia (Africa)
Date of Submission: 30/09/1997
Category: Mixed
Submitted by: Center for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Information and Culture
Coordinates: Southern terminus of the main Ethiopian Rift valley. Lat. 5°23'97" N ; Long. 37°21'95" E
Ref.: 932

Description

The Konso Paleo-anthropological sites were discovered in 1991. the sites are dated to be between 200.000 and 2000000 years old. So far 17 localities are identified. The sites are about 15 kms. long (from North to South) and five kms. wide (from East to West). The Konso sites are constituted by sediments of an ancient lake margin and alluvial fans. Early and middle pleistocene animals and hominides fossils along with early Acheulian and Oldowan cultural materials are discovered from these ancient sediments. Four years of research in this area had resulted in the discovery of twelve individual hominides identified to be Homo erectus and Australopithicus Boisei. Animal fossil are very abundant. Acheulian stone tools are very abundant in all localities. So far more than thirty five archaeological levels are identified.