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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> Ethiopia discovers 30 million years old
fossils <BR> BBC Monitoring Service - United
Kingdom; Jul 07, 2005 <BR></FONT>
<P>
<P> Text of report in English by
pro-Ethiopian government Walta <BR>Information Centre website on 7 July <BR>
<P> Addis Ababa, 7 July: The Authority for
Research and Conservation of <BR>Cultural Heritages said remains of plant and
animal specimen estimated to be <BR>30 million years old have been unearthed in
Ethiopia. <BR>
<P> Archaeology and palaeoantropology
department head with the authority, <BR>Dr Yonas Beyene told Walta Information
Centre on Tuesday [5 July] that the <BR>animal and plant fossils ranging up to
30 million years and 500,000 years <BR>old stone tools were discovered at
Chilga, middle Awash, Melkakuntire, and <BR>Fejej areas [Central Ethiopia]. <BR>
<P> Dr Yonas said detailed analysis was still
under way on 28 and 30 <BR>million years old animal and plant fossils discovered
in Chilga, Gonder <BR>areas. <BR>
<P> He said stone tools ranging from four
million years to 100,000 years <BR>were also discovered in Milechifra, Gona,
Dikak and Sidima in Awash valley, <BR>at Galili in Somali state [southwest],
Cheleleka in West Hararghe and <BR>Melkakuntre in West Shewa zone [central].
<BR>
<P> Six studies focused on the life style,
the settlement pattern as well <BR>as cultural civilization and technological
aspects of ancient people that <BR>lived before several million years in
prehistoric era have been conducted. <BR>
<P> Paleoantropological studies would help in
understanding the history of <BR>people who left no written document or
inscription behind them, Dr Yonas <BR>said, adding that such studies have been
conducted in Kafa-Shaka, Gamo, <BR>Askersa [southern]and Benishngul-Gumuz
[western] in the country. <BR>
<P> He meanwhile said registration of a site
has also been carried out at <BR>Armufo-dilala in West Shewa, 100 kms away from
Addis Ababa where 800 years <BR>old 18 standing steles depicting human pictures
were discovered. <BR>
<P> Dr Yonas said discussion was held with
the local community to conserve <BR>and develop the burial area to which work on
administration plan was under <BR>preparation. <BR>
<P> The discovery of human specimen found in
Omo valley area has helped <BR>push the history of early hominid prehistoric era
from 165,000 years to <BR>196,000 years, he added. <BR>
<P> Source: Walta Information Centre website,
Addis Ababa, in English 7 <BR>Jul 05 <BR>
<P> © BBC Monitoring <BR>
<P> _____________________________________________________________________
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