Melka Kunture, Ethiopia: Early Pleistocene Faunas of the Ethiopian Highlands

Melka Kunture, Ethiopia, stands out as a unique archaeological and paleontological site complex, offering unparalleled insights into the evolutionary sequence of lithic industries from the late Oldowan to historic times. Located in the Ethiopian Highlands near Addis Ababa, this site provides abundant faunal remains that reconstruct the diet of early hominins and their high-altitude environment, supported by rich floral spectra. The study highlights its significance as having no equivalent in East Africa for documenting such a comprehensive evolutionary sequence, contributing critically to our understanding of human evolution and environmental adaptation in the region.

Geraads, D., Gallotti, R., Raynal, J.-P., Bonnefille, R., & Mussi, M. (2022). Melka Kunture, Ethiopia: Early Pleistocene Faunas of the Ethiopian Highlands. African Paleoecology and Human Evolution, 256–268. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139696470.021