GREEN SAHARA

NIGERAFRICA

• About 9,000 years ago, a very wet climate prevailed in parts of the Sahara Desert called the Neolithic Subpluvial period (Green Sahara). Lasting several thousand years, this Green Sahara was home to many grassland and woodland animals as well as humans. While on an expedition for dinosaur fossils with paleontologist Paul Sereno in Niger in 2000, Hettwer discovered a burial area containing hundreds of skeletons from two distinct cultures, each thousands of years old - the Kiffian and Tenerian. Also found in the dry and desolate site were hunting tools, pottery, and bones of large land animals and fish.

A 6,000 year old "Tenerian" skeleton with his middle finger in his mouth

The Gobero archeology excavation site

A Nigerien Army guard on hand for protection from possible bandits

A mother and two children died at the same time and were buried here holding hands

A 8,000 year-old giraffe rock carving in DaBous, Niger

Cutting burlap strips that will be soaked in plaster and wrapped around 1.9 million year old hippo skull for protection.

A cast of a Suchomimus dinosaur seen in Agadez, Niger

Niger, men from the Wodaabe tribe dance and sing at the Gerewol festival

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