Abstracts for the 2002 Meetings

http://www.paleoanthro.org/abst2002.htm#rook

The Buia Project: a collaborative geo-paleontological and paleoanthropological research project in Eritrea

L. Rook1,2, Y. Libsekal3, A. Kibreab4, R. Russom3, Tewelde M. Tecle4, d E. Abbate1
1Earth Sciences Department, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, Italy
2Natural History Museum (Geology and Palaeontology Section), University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, Italy
3National Museum of Eritrea, P. O. Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea
4Department of Mines, Ministry of Mines and Energy, P. O. Box 272, Asmara, Eritrea

The Buia Project is a collaborative research effort among the National Museum of Eritrea, the Eritrea Department of Mines and the University of Florence. Research field work began in 1994 with a Department of Mines and University of Florence joint project mainly focused on geological survey. This led to the identification of a Plio-Pleistocene fossil mammal-bearing succession located 20 km south of Buia village in the northern Danakil (Afar) depression. The huge potential of this area was demonstrated by the discovery of an almost complete human skull as well as several sites with widespread and abundant Oldowan and Acheulean tools. The two field seasons of December 1995 and February 1997 led to the definition of a local stratigraphy, the identification of several different vertebrate-bearing levels, the collection by surface prospecting of about 600 fossil remains, and the paleomagnetic sampling of the entire succession. Since the discovery of fossil mammals and paleoanthropological remains, the collaborative project was enlarged to include the National Museum of Eritrea, which is in charge of safeguarding the national cultural heritage. Following the discovery, a new research proposal was submitted, aiming also to create a base for an adequate laboratory in the National Museum of Eritrea. The Buia Project was approved by the Research Committee of the University of Asmara, obtained an exclusive permit area delimited by Derawle stream (to the north) and Mahabale Wadi (to the south), and is currently fully operative.

The activity of the Buia Project, aimed at developing structure and capacity building and research, is considered pivotal for future research projects in Eritrea and for the management of paleontological, paleoanthropological, archaeological and geological heritage. The Project is supported by the Italian CNR (P.F. "Beni Culturali"),  the University of Florence, the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation.