/ 2 March 2004

Unique Ethiopian fossil find excites researchers

A team of researchers has reported the discovery of animal fossils more than four million years old in the Galila area of southeastern Ethiopia.

The team discovered more than 400 faunal remains, including three ancient hominids, during excavation undertaken in 2003 and early this year, one of the researchers, Gerhard Weber of Vienna University, told reporters on Monday evening.

”Such a unique ancient paleontological discovery would fill the gap of information in relation to other known sites,” said Weber.

Excavation work in the area, about 900km southeast of Addis Ababa, will continue in a bid to find other more complete and/or older hominids, Weber added.

In 2001, an international team of scientists found animal fossils also more than four million years old near the southeastern Ethiopian town of Gadamaitu. — Sapa-AFP