Lower Valley of the Awash, Ethiopia

Awash River, Ethiopia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Awash_River_Valley,_Asaita,_Afar,_Ethiopia.JPG
Author: Cook.bri


The Lower Valley of the Awash is a very important palaeontological site in Africa. This valley of the Awash River has been studied by paleontologists for its early human remains. The oldest remains to have been discovered here dates back 4 million years, providing fresh insight into human evolution. It was here that fragments of a skeletion was put together to form Lucy.

The Awash valley was only documented by Europeans in 1933, when Wilfred Thesiger followed the course of the river from the city of Awash to the Aussa oasis. The Awash valley is the traditional home of the Afar people, the principal ethnic group in the Horn of Africa.

Lower Valley of the Awash was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 4th session of the World Heritage Committee which was held at Headquarters in Paris, France, on 1-5 September, 1980.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 11 6 0.216 E 40 34 45.804
Inscription Year: 1980
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: II, III, IV

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