Olduvai Gorge ( or Oldupaai) - The cradle of mankind
Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, is a unique place in Africa and has a historical
significance related to human evolution located between Ngorongoro and Serengeti
parks.
This is the place where Mary and Louis Leakey found started the Excavation work in the 1950s which continued on for another 3 decades resulted in the discovery of the first artifacts in Olduvai (pebble tools and choppers) date to circa 2 million years ago but fossil remains of human ancestors have been found from as long as 2.5 million years ago. This area is 30 miles long. It is believed that this place was the location of a lake and due to volcanic activity the lake eventually drained out and eventually revealing the lower layers. The site has many tools of stone and footprints of famous Laetoli which indicates that our ancistors walked upright atleast 3.8 million years ago.
There are a few birds which are found in just this area. The rocks under the basin date to 5.3 million years ago.
The name Olduvai originated from a European misspelling of Oldupai, the correct Maasai word for this region of great historical importance named after the wild sisal plant fiber growing in abundance in the gorge. There is also a museum where visitors can listen to lectures and see visual representation of the discoveries made in the region. The excavations at Olduvai were important because they established the African origin of humankind.
