Middle Awash Project
The Middle Awash Project is an international research expedition conducted in the Afar region of Ethiopia with the goal of determining the origins of humanity. The project has the approval of the Ethiopian Culture Ministry and a strong commitment to developing Ethiopian archaeology, paleontology and geology research infrastructure. This project has discovered over 260 fossil specimens and over 17,000 vertebrate fossil specimens to date ranging from 200,000 to 6,000,000 years in age. Researchers have discovered the remains of four hominin species, the earliest subspecies of homo sapiens as well as stone tools. All specimens are permanently held at the National Museum of Ethiopia, where the project’s laboratory work is conducted year round. Geography The Middle Awash Project takes place in a semi arid, rather remote part of the Afar rift. Between 5.8 and 4.4 Ma, the region was grassland and wetland. Today, the rift is a basin divided by fault lines and filled with volcanoes. A ...
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