Scientists discover 1.5m year old hominin cranium in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, March 4, 2020 (FBC) –Scientists have discovered nearly completed hominin cranium and a partial cranium in Ethiopia that date back 1.5 million and 1.26 million years, respectively.

The crania were discovered from the Gona study area, in Afar region, by Dr. Sileshi Semaw, Senior Research Scientist from CCENNIEH (Burgos, Spain), Prof M. Rogers from SCSU (Connecticut, USA) and their research team.

Both crania, assigned to Homo erectus, were associated with both simple Oldowan-type and more complex, Acheulian stone tool assemblages.

Gona is located in the Afar triangle of Ethiopia, adjacent to the well-known Middle Awash and Hadar study areas where the famous skeleton ‘Ardi’ and ‘Lucy’ were discovered, respectively.

According to a statement Authority of Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage sent to FBC, the research team has been investigating the Gona deposit since 1999.