World Heritage Site: Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia
Publication Year: 2025
Publication Type: Article
Publication Identifier: WHED20A841DC4
Summary
A significant discovery at Melka Kunture, Ethiopia, reveals the association between Homo erectus / Homo ergaster remains and Oldowan stone tool assemblages, dating back approximately 2 million years. This finding highlights early hominin adaptation to high-altitude environments in the Ethiopian Highlands during the Lower Pleistocene. Two key sites, Garba IV (level D) and Gombore I, provided crucial evidence: a child's mandible (MK 81 GAR IVE 0043) linked to Homo erectus / ergaster, and a robust humerus (Gombore IB-7594), both associated with pebble tools. The study integrates archaeological, paleontological, and dating techniques to challenge previous taxonomic classifications, suggesting these specimens may belong to Homo sp., Homo erectus, or even Paranthropus boisei. This research underscores the complexity of early hominin evolution in high-altitude regions.
Citation
Prat, S. (2025). Homo erectus. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20737567
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