Rukwa Rift Basin Project

The Rukwa Rift Basin Project (RRBP) was initiated to focus paleontological and geological field exploration in poorly sampled strata in southern and western Tanzania. This work reveals a rare glimpse into the past, as the Rukwa Rift Basin preserves one of the only well-exposed, fossiliferous Cretaceous-Neogene continental sedimentary sequences in sub-equatorial Africa. Since 2002, project PIs from Ohio University, Michigan State University, James Cook University, and the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) have assembled research teams for annual field expeditions. These teams have recovered a diversity of Cretaceous, Paleogene, and Neogene terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, revealing the region's importance for understanding environmental change through time. The RRBP provides opportunities for student training, science education, and outreach. The project receives funding from the US National Science Foundation (EAR-Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Program, EAR-Instrumentation and Facilities Program), the National Geographic Society, and the LSB Leakey Foundation for field and laboratory research.

Museum

Museums

The RRBP’s traveling exhibit “Tanzania in Deep Time” is available for temporary installations of up to 6 months. Our basic exhibition is a modular collection consisting of 14 durable vinyl panels (bilingual in English and Kiswahili) that examines the Rukwa Rift Basin through the lens of paleontological exploration and environmental change through time. Additional components include 3-dimensinal materials that highlight tools used in the collection and study of fossil materials. We have other materials to use in educational outreach that relate to the exhibit, many of which are tied to K-12 science educational standards. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us for more details.