Finding Fossil Footprints in the Archival Record: Case Studies from the Archaeological Site of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia)

A reassessment of archival records from Melka Kunture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ethiopia's Upper Awash Valley, reveals a higher prevalence of fossil footprints than previously recognized. These biogenic structures, overlooked during decades of archaeological investigations since the 1960s, highlight the potential for such traces to be more common in Pleistocene sequences than assumed. The study demonstrates how archival research—specifically reanalyzing photographs and drawings—can uncover hidden evidence, encouraging archaeologists to incorporate this approach into future fieldwork. This case study serves as a model for identifying bioturbated layers in other archaeological contexts.

Altamura, F. (2020). Finding Fossil Footprints in the Archival Record: Case Studies from the Archaeological Site of Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia). Journal of African Archaeology, 18(2), 243–252. https://doi.org/10.1163/21915784-20200011