Olduvai Gorge Facts, Museum, Located, History, Reviews, Photos
Olduvai Gorge Facts, Museum, Reviews, Located, History, Fossils, Famous for, Discoveries, Photos, Videos. Perhaps the most impressive archaeological site in all of East Africa is the Olduvai Gorge. In 1979, it was added to the list of sites that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very complete history of human origins and the development of the Serengeti habitat is exposed in the gorge’s exposed rock walls.
Olduvai Gorge Ngorongoro
Olduvai Gorge Facts
In this location, Mary and Louis Leakey conducted extensive research for over three decades, diligently excavating and discovering the initial fossils and artifacts that provided accurate chronological information about our earliest human predecessors.
The researchers have made notable findings, such as the renowned Zinjanthropus (Australopithecus boisei) cranium, along with remnants of Homo habilis, the presumed creator of the abundant early stone tools discovered in deposits dating back 1.6 to 1.8 million years ago. Additionally, they have uncovered evidence of Homo erectus, a hominin species with a larger body and brain, which preceded the earliest Homo sapiens.
The gorge is accessible for visitation throughout the entire year. The presence of an authoritative guide is crucial for individuals seeking to attend the current archaeological excavations.
What to see in Olduvai Gorge
Rock structures and sediments
What to do in Olduvai Gorge
Archeological Tours
Detailed Map of Olduvai Gorge Museum
Olduvai Gorge Museum
The Olduvai Gorge Museum showcases a wide array of fossils, stone tools attributed to our hominid ancestors, and skeletal remains of several extinct animals that have been unearthed within the gorge.
The museum was established in 1970 by Mary Leakey. In the year 2017, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority undertook the replacement of the preexisting museum structure through the construction of a novel museum and visitors centre.
The Construction of Olduvai Gorge Museum
Olduvai Gorge – The Cradle of Human Kind
The construction of the new museum encompassed various elements, such as the expansion and enhancement of museum exhibits to augment the educational experience for visitors. Additionally, a cultural boma was incorporated into the design, offering spaces for visitors to delve into different facets of Maasai culture. Furthermore, the project included the establishment of a small restaurant and a covered theatre-like viewing platform, providing visitors with a captivating vantage point to admire the gorge. The utilization of quartzite stones was employed in the design and construction of the recently established museum, visitor center, café, and theatre-like viewing platform.
In addition to the indoor exhibitions housed within the museum, there are also designated outdoor lecture locations where museum curators deliver orientation presentations to visiting individuals. Within the museum premises, visitors have the opportunity to arrange for a guided tour that traverses the canyon leading to other notable sites. These include the Zinj site, located around 1 kilometer away, the Mary Leakey Museum situated at a distance of 2 kilometers, the Shifting Sand area located 10 kilometers away, the Nasera Rock site situated 33 kilometers away, and finally, the Olkarien canyon, which is approximately 60 kilometers away.
