Melka Kunture, Stone Age archaeological site near Awash River, Ethiopia
Melka Kunture is an archaeological site in the Rift Valley with multiple excavation zones and valleys whose layers reach over 100 meters deep. The area shows a complex geological history with evidence of repeated human settlements spanning roughly two million years.
Scientists discovered this place in the 1960s and then conducted French research missions that revealed important information about early human settlement. Italian research teams later continued the systematic work and added more significant findings to our understanding.
The site has been studied by researchers for decades and contains a museum displaying exhibits about prehistoric Africa, geology, and volcanic processes. The collection shows findings from local excavations and helps visitors understand the long story of human settlement in this region.
The location lies south of Addis Ababa and is accessible with guided tours that can be organized locally with experienced guides. The best time to visit is during the dry season when the paths are easier to navigate.
Over 30 different settlement locations were found here, each containing stone tools from different periods of human history. These discoveries show that people returned to this place repeatedly over a span of 1.7 million years.
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