France hands over million-year-old prehistoric tools to Ethiopia

The ceremony took place at the National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 30.

The tools are part of some 3,500 archaeological artefacts returned to Ethiopia by the European country. These items which include two stone axes and a stone cutter were samples of excavations from the prehistoric site Melka Kunture near Addis Ababa.  

French researcher Jean Chavaillon led the excavations decades ago.

“This is a handover, not a restitution, in that these objects have never been part of French public collections,” Laurent Serrano, a culture adviser at the French Embassy was quoted. 

The tools were stored at the French Embassy in Ethiopia since the 1980s but have been returned to Ethiopia’s Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. 

The remaining 3,500 artefacts from the site will be handed over to the Ethiopian Heritage Directorate soon.

The move is indicative of the long-standing partnership in archaeology and palaeontology that France and Ethiopia have shared over the years.

French Foreign Minister Barrot said the artefacts are “samples of nearly 3,500 items” that highlight the rich history of Ethiopia.