The Olduvai Gorge

 

 

 

 

Olduvai Gorge, situated within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the route from Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti Park, is widely regarded as the cradle of humanity, where some of the earliest human remains were discovered. According to legend, a German entomologist stumbled upon these remains while butterfly hunting. However, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, the German government could not allocate funds for excavation, redirecting resources to the war effort instead.

Years later, the spotlight returned to Olduvai Gorge when the Leakey family conducted excavations, uncovering significant finds. Notably, in 1959, Dr. Mary Leakey discovered Australopithecus Boisei, dating back 1.5 million years. The gorge is now home to a small yet informative museum overlooking the site, showcasing skulls, bones, and tools of prehistoric humans, along with a vast collection of animal fossils that offer insights into the fauna of two million years ago. Among these fossils are remnants of prehistoric elephants, giraffes, enormous ostriches, and giant horned sheep.

Ongoing erosion by the Ol Duvai River continues to expose vital fossils, aiding archaeologists and paleontologists in unraveling the origins of modern humans and the ancient creatures that inhabited this region, particularly at Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli.

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