The Pleistocene fossil site of Masangano in northern Rwanda

In 1994, the Landessammlung fur Naturkunde (re)discovered a Pleistocene fossil site in northern Rwanda. At the embouchure of the Mukungwa into the Nyabarongo, loose sediments crop out, forming terraces, consisting of an alternate stratification of micaceous fluviatile-lacustrine sand conglomerates and schluff. At the base of a travertine superposition in the hanging layer, fossil remains of Pleistocene large animals appear. These are accompanied by quartz flakes and tools of middle and late Pleistocene cultures. Above a discordance in the lower part, volcanic rubble has been found. The sands below contain molluscs, remains of fishes, reptiles and small mammals. Pollen analyses indicate a savannah-type climate. The direction of accretion of these sediments points to the North. Terrace formations along the Mukungwa, found in Central Africa for the first time outside of the rift, river mouths also pointing to the North and sediment finds on the Buganda surface are indications for changes in the direction of drainage. In the Masangano area, other sediment bodies could be located. Investigations into the relations of these sediments and their creation are planned. Further work at Masangano is also expected to shed light on the Pleistocene climatic situation of Central Africa.