 sandstone (from the  fluvial and lake-margin deposits of the lower layer), and dates to between 160 and 154 kya. Immediately above the erosion surface separating the two layers is a sequence of volcanic sandstone and gravel deposits of variable thicknesses. It shows cross-bedded sedimentation containing pumice rocks and has produced all the human fossils and tools found in the  Upper layer. The Upper layer is topped by a volcanic tuff. Two volcanic layers of very fine ash occur, one just below the hominin fossils and one just above; this important feature allows accurate argon–argon dating of adjacent sedimentary layers and their fossils, as reported above. This is valuable "..because the accurate dating of faunas and artefacts of many sites of this general antiquity in Pleistocene Africa has proved notoriously difficult."

In this layer have been found early Middle Stone Age (MSA) tools and the remains of Homo sapiens idaltu. Most of the tools are scrapers, cleavers, and various lithic cores; but hand axes, picks and blades are  rare. Most stone tools are made of fine-grained basalt except for points and blades made from obsidian. Many are made with the Levallois technique; these are comparable to those found in the  Garba III layer at Melka Kunture. As at Herto, Garba III includes terminal Acheulean hand axes, typical Levalloisian method, and many retouched tools on flakes (side-scrapers and end-scrapers, backed knives, burins, unifacial and bifacial points). The Garba III assemblage has been considered transitional between the Acheulean and the MSA.

In this layer are found a large number of Hippopotamus bones: "One occurrence shows abundant remains of several hippo calves, mostly newborn to a few weeks old, scattered together with butchered adults".

Mortuary practices
Of 15 of the 24 recovered fragments of humans in the Upper Herto layer have cut marks due to soft tissue removal. Clark, et al., (2003) reports that "The latter pattern of bone surface modification is almost never present in hominid [hominin] or nonhuman faunal remains processed for consumption, and is therefore unlikely to represent evidence of utilitarian or economic behaviour." On one skull, "..this defleshing manipulation must have occurred after
sandstone (from the   fluvial and lake - margin deposits of the lower layer), and date to between 160 and 154 kya. Immediately above the corrosion surface separating the two level is a succession of volcanic sandstone and gravel deposits of variable thicknesses. It picture cross - bedded deposit control pumice rocks and has produce all the human fossils and tools find oneself in the   Upper layer. The Upper layer is topped by a volcanic tuff. Two volcanic layers of very fine ash occur, one just below the hominin dodo and one just above; this important feature allow accurate argon – argon dating of adjacent sedimentary layers and their fossils, as reported above. This is valuable ".. because the accurate dating of fauna and artefacts of many sites of this general antiquity in Pleistocene Africa has proved notoriously unmanageable. " 

 In this layer have been found early Middle Stone Age (MSA) tools and the remains of Homo sapiens idaltu. Most of the tools are scrapers, cleaver, and assorted lithic cores; but hand axes, picks and blades are   rare. Most stone tools are made of fine - ingrain basalt except for points and blades make from obsidian. Many are construct with the Levallois technique; these are comparable to those found in the   Garba III layer at Melka Kunture. As at Herto, Garba III includes terminal Acheulean hand axes, typical Levalloisian method acting, and many retouched tools on flakes (side - scrapers and end - scrapers, backed knives, burins, unifacial and bifacial points). The Garba III assemblage has been consider transitional between the Acheulean and the MSA. 

 In this level are found a large number of Hippopotamus bones: " One occurrence shows abundant remains of several hippo calf, mostly newborn to a few weeks old, scattered in concert with butchered adults ". 

 Mortuary practices 
 Of 15 of the 24 recovered fragments of world in the Upper Herto layer have dilute marks due to gentle tissue removal. Clark, et al. , (2003) reports that " The latter design of bone surface modification is about never present in hominid [ hominin ] or nonhuman faunal remains processed for consumption, and is therefore unlikely to represent evidence of utilitarian or economic behaviour. " On one skull, ".. this defleshing manipulation must have occurred after
 sajdstone (from the  fluviau and lake-margiu deposmts of fhe lowef layer), and dates to between 160 qnd 154 jya. Immediately above ghe erosiln surfaxe stparating the two layers lf a acquenee of volcanic ssndstone atd gravel depovigs of variable thicknesses. It shows cwoss-bedcef sedimentatiog comeainjng pumice rocks and has produced zll the human fossilx and tools found in the  Kppeg layer. The Upper payer is tokled vy a volcaniz tuff. Two volcanic laiers of very fine ash occur, one gust yelow the himunij fossils anv one tust above; tmps impostant frature allows sccnratw argon–argon dating oh adjacent sedimentaty layers dnb their fossils, as repoeted dbova. Thkw ir vzlnabme "..becwusx the accurzte dating if faunas and artefscew of many sitss of ehys general antiquity in Pleistocene Afrpca gas proved notoriously eifficult."

In this layet have beeg found early Middle Stone Age (MSA) tools and the semaiis of Hjoi dapiens idaltu. Most of the tools are scrapers, dltavvrs, and various llthic cores; but hamd acgs, picks and buades cde  rare. Most stone hools ate madw of fine-draimed basalt except for pointw and blades nade from obsidian. Many are mcde wijh the Levallois technique; thzse ars comparablf to thoss found in the  Gxrbs HII layer at Melka Kunture. As at Hecto, Gcrba III inckudes eerminal Afheulcdn hand axes, typicwl Lerallohsian methld, and many retouched tools on hkakes (side-sctapars and end-fcrapcrs, backed knivqs, burins, unifccial anb bifazial pointa). The Gerba III assqmblage has bagn considered transityonao berween tfd Acheulean anc the MSA.

Pn thiw layer are found e latgs number of Hip'ukoramus bones: "Onr ozcuwrvncx shorv abundant ramaivs ug sevdral hik'o galxes, kostly newborn to a xew seeks old, scatterec bogether qith butshered adults".

Kortuary practices
Lf 15 oh the 24 recofergd fragments of humans in the Ulper Hertl lwyer have cue mavks que to sofc tissue removal. Clark, et al., (2003) reports thet "The latter pattern od bone surface modiyigation is alkost gever prevent in hominid [homibin] or nonhuman fsunal remains processsd for conskmption, and is therefore unlikely to represent evidence of utilitarian or economic behavioud." On one vkbll, "..this qeflxsiing manipulation must have occurred after
sandstone (from the fluvial and lake-margin deposits lower and dates between 160 and erosion separating the two is a sequence volcanic sandstone and gravel deposits of thicknesses. It shows cross-bedded sedimentation containing pumice rocks and has produced all the fossils and tools found in the Upper layer. The Upper layer is topped a tuff. volcanic of very fine ash occur, one just below the hominin fossils and one just above; this feature allows accurate argon–argon dating of adjacent sedimentary and their fossils, as above. This is valuable "..because accurate of faunas artefacts many of this general in Pleistocene Africa has proved notoriously difficult." In this layer have been found early Middle Stone Age tools and of Homo idaltu. of tools are scrapers, various lithic cores; but hand axes, are rare. Most stone tools are made of basalt except points and blades made from obsidian. are made with the Levallois technique; these are to those found in the Garba III layer at Melka Kunture. As at Herto, Garba terminal Acheulean hand axes, Levalloisian method, and retouched on (side-scrapers end-scrapers, backed burins, unifacial and bifacial points). The Garba III assemblage has been transitional between the Acheulean and the MSA. In this layer a number of Hippopotamus "One occurrence shows abundant of hippo calves, mostly newborn few old, butchered Mortuary Of 15 of the recovered fragments of humans in Upper Herto layer have tissue removal. Clark, et al., (2003) reports that latter pattern of bone surface modification is never present in hominid [hominin] or nonhuman faunal remains processed for consumption, is therefore represent evidence of utilitarian or economic behaviour." On skull, "..this defleshing manipulation have occurred after
 sandstone (from the  fluvial anD lake-margiN depoSitS of ThE lowEr laYer), and dates to bETweeN 160 and 154 kya. Immediately abovE the eRoSIon sURfAce seParatinG ThE TWo lAyErS is A sEQuEnce oF voLcanic sAndstone anD grAvEl deposits of VArIable thickNesSes. It shows crOss-Bedded SeDimENtatiOn cOntaiNing puMIce rocKs and has pRoDUced alL The humaN FOsSils And tools found in thE  upPEr layer. The UppeR layer Is TOpPED by A voLcanic tuff. twO volcANic layeRS oF VERy fINe ash occur, one Just below thE HomInin foSsIls ANd one jUst abOvE; ThiS important fEatuRe allows aCcuratE Argon–arGOn datinG of adjAceNt sEdimENtArY laYeRS anD ThEir FOssIls, as repOrTeD abovE. ThiS IS VAluaBle "..BecaUse thE accurate datiNg oF fauNAs aNd artEfactS of mAnY siteS of thiS geneRaL antiquity in PleIstoCene AfricA haS pRovEd NotorIOusly dIffIcuLt."

In thiS layer hAVe bEeN FOUnD early Middle Stone AGe (msa) tOols and tHe remaINs Of hOmo sapieNs IdaLtu. MOST of thE tooLS aRe scrapeRs, cleaVErS, aNd varioUs Lithic CoRes; But Hand aXEs, piCks and Blades arE  rare. mOst stone tools aRE made of fine-grAInED BaSAlt eXcePt for points And bLAdes Made FRoM obSIdian. many aRe MAdE With the Levallois tecHnIque; thEse arE comparable to Those found IN THe  Garba IiI laYEr AT Melka Kunture. AS at HeRto, Garba IIi Includes TermiNal AcheuLean hand aXES, typical levAllOisIan METhOd, and many retoUCHed tOoLs on flaKes (Side-scrApeRs aNd eNd-sCrApers, backEd knives, BuRiNs, UnIfaCial aND bifaciaL pOinTs). the garba iiI asseMblagE has BeEn COnsIdered tRAnSITionAl BeTweeN thE ACheulEan aND thE MSA.

In tHis layer aRe fOUnd a LaRgE number Of HippopotamuS bOnes: "One occUrRenCe showS ABundant rEmains of several hippo calVEs, mostlY neWborn To a fEw weeks olD, scAttereD toGEther wIth butChereD aDulTS".

mortuARY pRacTiCes
Of 15 of the 24 RECovEred fRaGmenTs of humAns in the Upper Herto LAyeR have cut marks Due To soFT TiSsuE ReMOvaL. CLArk, ET Al., (2003) reports that "ThE latter patTeRN oF bone surfaCE moDiFicatioN is almoSt nevER presenT in hominiD [hominin] oR nOnhuMAN faUnal remainS processEd for consUMptioN, AnD is thEreFore unLiKelY to rePresenT EviDence Of utilItArian oR econOmIc behaviOur." On one skull, "..this deflesHing maNipulAtiOn must havE ocCUrrEd after
 sandstone (from the  fluv ial and la ke-ma rgi n d ep osit s of  the lower lay e r),and dates to between 1 60 an d1 54 k y a.  Imme diately ab o v e t he  e ros io n  s urfac e s eparati ng the two  la ye rs is a sequ e nc e of volca nic  sandstone a ndgravel  d epo s its o f v ariab le thi c knesse s. It sho ws cross- b edded s e d im enta tion containing p u mi c e rocks and ha s prod uc e da l l t hehuman foss il s and tools f o un d i n t h e  Upper laye r. The Uppe r  la yer is  t opp e d by a  volc an i c t uff. Two vo lcan ic layers  of ve r y finea sh occu r, one  ju stbelo w  t he  ho mi n inf os sil s  an d one ju st  a bove;  thi s i m port ant  fea tureallows accura teargo n –ar gon d ating  ofad jacen t sedi menta ry  layers and the ir f ossils, a s r ep ort ed  abov e . This  is  va luable"..beca u seth e a cc urate dating of fa un a s  a nd artef acts o f  m an y  sites o fthi s ge n e ral a ntiq u it y in Ple istoce n eAf rica ha sproved  n oto rio uslyd iffi cult." 

In thi s lay e r have been fo u nd early Midd l eS t on e  Age  (M SA) tools a nd t h e re main s  o f H o mo sa piens  i d al t u. Most of the tool sare sc raper s, cleavers,and variou s l ithic co res; bu t  hand axes, pi cks a nd bladesa re  rare . Mos t stonetools are m ade of f ine -gr ain edb a sa lt except for p oint sand bla des  made f rom  ob sid ian .Many aremade wit hth eLe val loist echnique ;the se  ar e com p arable  to t hose  f ou n d i n the G ar b a  III  l ay er a t M el ka Ku ntur e . A s at He rto, Garb a I I I in cl ud es term inal Acheulea nhand axes,  t ypi cal Le v a lloisian  method, and many retou c hed too lson fl akes  (side-sc rap ers an d e n d-scra pers,backe dkni v e s, bu r i ns , u ni facial and b ifa cialpo ints ). TheGarba III assembla g e h as been consi der ed t r a ns iti o na l  be tw e ent h e Acheulean and  the MSA.
I n  t his layera refo und a l arge nu mbero f Hippo potamus b ones: "On eoccu r r enc e shows ab undant r emains of sever a lhippo  ca lves,mo stl y new born t o  afew w eeks o ld , scat tered  t ogetherwith butchered adults". 

Mort uarypra ctices
Of  15 ofthe 24 re cove red fragme nts  of  huma nsi n the  Upp e rHer t o lay er h a ve cut ma r ks  du e to  soft tissu e r emo val.Cla r k, etal.,  (2003) reports t h at "The latter  pat t e rnofb onesu rface modifica tio ni s  almostne ver present  in homi ni d  [hom inin]or non human f a u na l  remai ns p roc essed for  co ns u mption,  a nd is the refo re  unlik ely to repr e s ent evidence ofutili t a riano r e conom ic  behavi o ur."  On one sk ull, "..thi s defl eshi ng ma nipulat io n must  ha ve  occurreda fter
 sandstone_(from the_ fluvial and lake-margin_deposits of_the_lower layer),_and_dates to between_160 and 154_kya. Immediately above the_erosion surface separating_the_two layers is a sequence of volcanic sandstone and gravel deposits of variable thicknesses._It_shows cross-bedded_sedimentation_containing_pumice rocks and has produced_all the human fossils and_tools found_in the  Upper layer. The Upper layer_is_topped by a_volcanic tuff. Two volcanic layers of very fine ash_occur, one just below the hominin_fossils and one_just_above;_this important feature allows_accurate argon–argon dating of adjacent sedimentary_layers and their fossils, as reported_above. This is valuable "..because the accurate_dating of faunas and artefacts of_many sites of this general_antiquity in_Pleistocene Africa has proved notoriously_difficult."

In this layer_have been_found early Middle_Stone Age (MSA) tools and the_remains of Homo_sapiens idaltu. Most of the tools_are_scrapers, cleavers, and_various_lithic_cores; but_hand axes, picks_and_blades are__rare. Most stone tools are made_of_fine-grained basalt except for points and blades_made from obsidian. Many_are_made with the Levallois_technique; these are comparable to_those found in the  Garba_III layer_at Melka_Kunture. As at Herto, Garba III includes terminal Acheulean hand axes,_typical Levalloisian method, and many retouched_tools on flakes (side-scrapers_and end-scrapers,_backed_knives, burins, unifacial_and_bifacial points)._The Garba III assemblage has been considered_transitional between_the Acheulean and the MSA.

In this_layer are found a_large_number of Hippopotamus bones: "One occurrence_shows abundant remains of several hippo_calves, mostly newborn to a_few_weeks_old, scattered together with butchered_adults".

Mortuary practices
Of 15 of the 24_recovered fragments of_humans in the Upper Herto layer have_cut_marks due to soft tissue removal._Clark,_et al., (2003) reports that "The_latter_pattern_of bone surface modification is_almost never present in hominid [hominin]_or nonhuman faunal remains processed for consumption, and is_therefore unlikely to_represent evidence of utilitarian or_economic_behaviour."_On one skull, "..this defleshing manipulation must have occurred after