Dire Dawa University and France’s Institute of Paleontology completed a joint geo-paleoanthropological research project in the Fejej area of southern Ethiopia.

Dire Dawa University and France’s Institute of Paleontology completed a joint geo-paleoanthropological research project in the Fejej area of southern Ethiopia.

• ወቅታዊ መረጃ
• December 29, 2025

Dire Dawa University, in collaboration with France’s Institute of Paleontology, has successfully completed a joint geo-paleoanthropological research project in the Fejej area of southern Ethiopia. The intensive fieldwork, conducted for months, brought together geological and paleontological experts to investigate the region’s ancient environment and fossil record.

The geological team mapped and analyzed multiple stratigraphic and lithological units, including diatomite, clay, sandstone, conglomerates, basalts, and iron-rich deposits. Their findings indicate that Fejej was part of a lake-dominated environment around 4 million years ago, supporting rich ecosystems and possible early hominin activity. Basalt samples were also collected for paleomagnetic and geochemical studies to help reconstruct the area’s geological history.