Melka Kunture and Balchit, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ethiopia’s Upper Awash Valley, is a cluster of prehistoric sites showcasing over 1.7 million years of human history. Located at 2,000–2,200 meters above sea level, it preserves archaeological and paleontological treasures, including fossils of Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, and archaic Homo sapiens, alongside tools crafted from volcanic rocks like obsidian from Balchit. Spanning the Oldowan, Acheulean, Middle Stone Age, and Late Stone Age, the site offers a window into early human adaptation to highland environments, enriched by fossilized footprints and ancient landscapes buried under volcanic and sedimentary layers.

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