Serengeti National Park, the world’s largest protected area, sits on a plateau between Lake Victoria and the western edge of the Rift Valley. It lies only a few dozen kilometers from Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet, where evidence of human and hominid presence dating back 2.6 to 1.7 million years has been uncovered.
The mission, led by archaeologist Professor Marta Osypińska, is being carried out by the University of Wrocław in cooperation with the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, and Tanzania National Parks. Researchers from Poland, the Czech Republic, and the University of Dar es Salaam are taking part.
“This is the first Polish project on such a large scale,” Osypińska said. “We aim to find traces of human settlement and reconstruct the history of interactions between humans, animals, and the environment in one of Africa’s most valuable landscapes.”
She noted that the region holds exceptional importance for understanding early human history. “We evolved in the East African savannahs. They offered food, shelter, and conditions that allowed our species to survive climatic disasters. Yet from an archaeological perspective, this pristine area remains poorly understood. Serengeti has been protected for decades and hasn’t been significantly altered by modern civilization. The scientific world is waiting for new data from this site, especially from modern methods such as isotope analysis.”
Two years ago, during short preliminary work, archaeologists identified 30 sites with strong scientific potential and verified many others reported earlier. Osypińska said the team focused on the park’s southern section, driving around rock outcrops familiar to many from The Lion King, where lions often rest.
These formations offer wide views of the plains and contain numerous rock shelters and caves. In two of them, researchers found previously unknown wall paintings, along with deposits of arranged animal bones, pottery fragments, and stone tools.
The paintings depict Masai shields, human figures, and animals—antelopes, cattle, and other species—painted with ochre, powdered bone, and charcoal.
The expedition faces major logistical challenges. Everything needed to support the 17‑person international team must be transported deep into the Serengeti, including specialized equipment, computers, documentation tools, and basic furnishings for living and working spaces. Each item travels hundreds of kilometers before reaching the research base.
The team is also working in one of the most biologically rich places on Earth, with the highest biomass concentration per square meter. Daily work unfolds among massive herds of wildebeest and zebras, roaming elephants and baboons, hippos in nearby rivers, and constant presence of predators—hyenas, leopards, and lions.
(pu)
Source: PAP