Allia Bay, Paleontological site at Lake Turkana, Kenya
Allia Bay is an excavation site on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana where researchers uncover fossils of early hominids. The location spans several layers of sediment that have preserved bone specimens from different time periods.
The first fossil discovery at the site occurred in 1982, establishing it as an important center for hominid research. These early finds helped scientists better understand the evolution of human ancestors.
The research findings from Allia Bay substantially influence modern understanding of human origins and early hominid development in East Africa.
The site is best accessed during drier seasons when roads along the lake are passable. Visitors should bring sturdy equipment and prepare for the rough terrain and heat of the region.
The fossils come from a layer dating back about 4.2 million years that represents an ancient riverbed of the ancestral Omo River. This old river landscape has preserved important clues about the environment where early human species lived.
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