
Ethiopia is one of the best places
in the world for conducting the science of paleoanthropology. This
is, in part, due to the country’s unique geological history. The
Great Rift Valley is the most prominent feature of Ethiopian geology,
and this feature has been present for millions of years. Because
of this, parts of the deep past have been preserved in the Main
Ethiopian and Afar rifts. The artifacts and fossils contained
in the rift’s sediments from ancient lake beds and rivers
are the ingredients that paleoanthropologists need to explore the
ancient past.
Modern paleoanthropological research
in Ethiopia is conducted by teams of archaeologists, geologists,
and paleontologists who work together in the field and in the laboratory. This
research is conducted under the auspices of the Authority for Conservation
of the Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture
and Tourism. The ‘headquarters’ for paleoanthropological
research has traditionally been the National Museum of Ethiopia,
located at Amist Kilo, in Addis Ababa. Here, Ethiopia’s
antiquities are studied, curated, and protected for posterity. The
paleoanthropological collections housed in Addis Ababa are unparalleled
in their time depth and importance for human evolutionary studies,
and these collections continue grow each year as several different
research projects proceed.
The Paleoanthropology Laboratory
at the National Museum was formerly the prime repository for
Ethiopian fossils and paleolithic artifacts. It was built
in the 1980s with funding from the National Science Foundation
of the U.S. This laboratory has been the focal point for
paleoanthropology in Ethiopia. Study of the objects and
data collected by field projects was conducted in this laboratory,
and scientists from around the world visit there to conduct comparative
studies. However, due to the great success of many different
projects, the laboratory was rapidly filled with antiquities
and researchers. Recognizing the need for improved and
expanded storage and research space, the National Museum of Ethiopia,
supported by the Ethiopian Government, is constructing a much
larger, state-of-the-art facility to house her antiquities. Another
facility in which many of these prehistoric treasures will be
displayed for the public is also being planned.