Olduvai Gorge

　　Olduvai Gorge (Olduvai Gorge), also translated as Oldoway Gorge or Olduwai Gorge, among others, is a gorge in East Africa, located in northern Tanzania. The gorge is known as the Cradle of Humankind because the remains of multiple early "Homo habilis" and fossilized bones have been discovered there, making it an archaeological site of great significance for the study of the earliest human ancestors.

　　The earliest direct ancestors of modern humans were "Homo habilis," also known as "handy man." They were descendants of early hominids called "Australopithecus," but were distinctly different from them. Homo habilis had round skulls, faces that closely resembled those of humans, slightly larger brain volumes, and the ability to walk upright and make tools using their hands. The term "Homo habilis" was coined by British archaeologist Louis Leakey, who first discovered traces of these ancestors in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. He found only fragments of remains, but he managed to identify the species they belonged to and named them "handy man" based on their ability to create tools.

　　Olduvai Gorge Reason to visit: An archaeological site of great significance for the study of the earliest human ancestors Continent: Africa [Africa] Country/Region: Tanzania [Tanzania] Province/State: Arusha Region [Arusha Region]