The African Plate, also known as the Nubian Plate, spans about 61,300,000 square kilometers. It is separating from the Somali Plate at a rate of approximately 4.7 millimeters per year. This movement indicates that geological processes are actively reshaping the region.

Key facts:

• The crust in the center of the Turkana Rift is about 13 kilometers thick.
• Along the edges of the rift region, the crust exceeds 35 kilometers in thickness.
• The Turkana Rift began its necking phase around 4 million years ago after volcanic activity.

Necking occurs when the crust becomes thinner than about 15 kilometers. This thinning leads to continental breakup and eventually ocean formation as magma can create new ocean floor. The Afar Depression is already witnessing early stages of this oceanization process.

The Turkana Rift has produced over 1,200 hominin fossils over the past four million years. These geological changes may have created conditions favorable for fossil preservation. Christian Rowan noted, “We found that rifting in this zone is more advanced, and the crust is thinner than anyone had recognized.” He added that as the crust thins, it becomes weaker, promoting continued rifting.

The temporal coincidence between tectonic transitions and fossil-bearing strata suggests that this necking phase provided critical conditions for fossil preservation. Yet, instead of being merely a birthplace of humanity, Turkana may represent where its story was best preserved.

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