Old mammal fossils found

Old mammal fossils found

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters): Scientists in eastern Ethiopia said on
Saturday they had discovered 250 four-million-year-old mammal
fossils which could provide new clues about how humans evolved.

An international research group said they had discovered the
skeletal remains of hyenas, lions, giraffes, horses, antelopes,
hippopotami, pigs and the complete skull of a baboon.

Austrian scientist Horst Seidler said he believed it was just
a matter of time before fossils of human origin were found in the
Gadamaitu region of eastern Ethiopia.

"In our recent fieldwork we have no new findings of hominid
fossils, but each of the newly discovered fauna pieces have made
a significant contribution in the understanding of human
evolution," he told a news conference.

About 20 anthropologists, geologists and paleontologists from
Austria, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy and the United States took part
in the four-week field work last month.