Ethio-Japanese research team reveals first known 8mln-year-old ape, fossils

Addis Ababa, February 10, 2016 (FBC) –An Ethio-Japanese led international research team revealed the first known 8 million-year-old ape and other fossils in Ethiopia.

The new dates and fossils strengthen the view that the human and modern ape lines emerged in Africa between around 10 and 7 million years ago.

The fossils were found at the southwestern end of the Afar depression, about 170km east of Addis Ababa, and in Mieso woreda, western Hararge zone, Oromia regional state.

The new fossils include elephants, hippos, pigs, horses, antelopes, rodents, rabbits, carnivores and monkey, totaling several hundred fossils.

The new 8 million-year-old fossils show that many kinds of mammals (hippos, pigs, horses, monkeys) were evolving locally in eastern Africa.

The research was designed and headed by Japanese paleoanthropologist Gen Suwa (The University of Tokyo) and Ethiopian paleoanthropologist Yonas Beyene and Berhane Asfaw.