Answers to the Puhinui students

Updated: August 2, 2000

Webmaster's note: During the team's stay in Tanzania, they have received email from across North America and around the world. Now that the team is back in Dar es Salaam and has a more reliable Internet link, they have been able to answer the questions sent by their new friends in Auckland, New Zealand.

Above: Students from Puhinui School,
Auckland, New Zealand.

Dear Students,

First of all, we are sorry that it has taken us so long to answer your questions. Our satellite phone developed a problem just when we were retrieving your message, and that was the last time we could communicate from the field. Even the best technology can sometimes let you down!

We are now in Dar es Salaam where internet access is very easy, so we're back in business. Here goes…

What do you do in your free time? (Ritik, 9yrs old)

Dear Ritik,

When we have free time, we spend it watching the bush babies come out every evening, reading, talking while sitting around the campfire, looking at the stars and constellations. Sometimes, while it's still early enough, we might take a shower using water from a plastic bag that has been heated by the sun (a "Sun shower").

We thought that the fossils probably belong to Tanzania and the people in the village. Will you be taking them all back to America, or leaving some behind in Tanzania? (Tamatoa, 9yrs old)

Dear Tamatoa,

Yes, the fossils do belong to the people of Tanzania! We have permission from the Tanzanian government to collect the fossils and to study them. We will obtain permission to borrow the specimens so that we can take them back to the United States temporarily until our studies are finished.

After that, the fossils will go back to Tanzania where they will stay permanently. We collected a nice fossil fish that will be used for teaching at the local school in the village of Mwaru.

How will the villagers earn money when the expedition leaves? (Jared, 9yrs old)

Dear Jared,

Mwaru is far away from any major cities in Tanzania. The villagers will probably earn some money as always from selling farm products and charcoal locally.

When you pick up a rock, how do you know if it is the right kind of rock to have a fossil in it? (Scott, 9 yrs old)

Dear Scott,

Fossils are found in rocks formed at the Earth's surface, called sedimentary rocks. Most plant fossils are found in rocks formed by deposition of very fine sediment in a body of water such as a lake or river. Here at Mahenge, all the fossils have been preserved between layers of mud (turned to stone) that were deposited in a lake. Sometimes, fossils are preserved in volcanic ash that has turned to stone (if the ash wasn't too hot to begin with!). But, having the right kind of rock is not a guarantee that it will contain fossils - it always requires a search!

We looked at the picture of the headman of the village. What is the fly whisk he is holding made of? Why is it important to his job? Sasha, 8 yrs old)

Dear Sasha,

The fly whisk is made from the tail hairs of a cow. It is an important symbol of authority.

We would like to know what tools you use. Could you take a photo and tell us what you use them for? (Gabrielle, 9 yrs old)

Dear Gabrielle,

For this excavation, we used shovels, large pick-axes, small pick-axes, and metal buckets for hauling rocks out of the pit. We split the rocks open with hammers and chisels to look for fossils between the layers.

We also used orange plastic flagging to mark the sedimentary layers in the pit, and a brush to clean off the surface of the rocks so that we could follow the layers from one part of the pit to another that contained the greatest concentration of fossils.

Sorry, we can't take a photo of the tools any more now that we're in Dar es Salaam, because we donated all our tools to the villagers of Mwaru.

When you have finished looking at the fossils in America, what will happen to them? Could we borrow one? (Kurt, 9 yrs old)

Dear Kurt,

When we finish studying the fossils in America, they will go back to Tanzania for permanent storage at the National Museums of Tanzania. Unfortunately, we do not have the authority to loan specimens to your class - sorry.

We really enjoyed your site, especially the photos. Can I add a question of my own: What digital camera are you using? (Ros Currie, teacher)

Dear Ros,

We're using a Kodak DC265 and we have found it to be an excellent tool. It's easy to use and provides instant gratification because everyone can see the pictures right away.

Thanks for all your questions,
The Team in Tanzania.