World Heritage sites: Human Origins at Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge, dubbed the ‘cradle of mankind', is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. The site was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979 for its outstanding ecological and geological value.
Olduvai Gorge is synonymous with the Leakey family and is the most famous site in the world for the study of human origins. Mary Leakey's 1959 discovery of an almost complete Zinjanthropus bosei cranium (now known as Australopithecus bosei), catapulted Louis and Mary Leakey and Olduvai Gorge to international fame and led to the founding of the modern science of palaeoanthropology, the study of human origins.
The gorge contains a range of palaeontological remains in an excellent state of preservation, including those of hominins (a term that refers to humans and their ancestors). The deposits occur in layers that span 2,000,000 years of hominin history. Olduvai still holds surprises despite being the focus of intense research for more than 40 years; Earthwatch teams have made an enormous contribution to the understanding of human evolution by unearthing hominin fossils.
The approach to the project site is via the Ngorongoro Highlands, at the southwestern edge of the Serengeti Plains. The spectacular Ngorongoro Highlands are renowned for the Ngorongoro crater, the largest intact, inactive and unflooded caldera in the world (a basin caused by the collapse or explosion of the centre of a volcano). The Conservation Area is home to one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in the whole of Africa, including the big five: elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and rhino.
The remains at Olduvai are threatened by the very same forces that brought them to the surface - erosion and the effects of rainfall. A huge area is at risk, so one of the major objectives of the research is to salvage a sample of the remains before they are lost forever. Volunteers work alongside the Principal Investigator, Dr. Fidelis Masao and his team, and take part in surveying, excavating and analysing artefacts including stone tools and fossil bones. During the expedition, the teams follow in the footsteps of the Leakey family, and even stay at the historic Leakey camp.
Team dates
Places are available on the 2008 teams:
30 May-12 June, 29 August-11 September, 12 September-25 September
Olduvai Gorge facts
Olduvai derives from ‘oldupai', the Maasai name for the sisal plant that grows in the area.
Tanzania facts
Capital: Dar es Salaam
Official language: Swahili
Population: 37,849,133
Area: 945,087 km2
Currency: Tanzanian shilling