Thrilling Discovery by a Country Day Alumnus

A thrilling discovery was made this summer by alumnus Juliette Zúñiga '24! She found a 1.8 MILLION-year-old human jawbone during an archaeological dig at Orozmani Archaeological Site in the country of Georgia. This incredible find is from Homo Erectus - one of our earliest human ancestors and the first to leave Africa.

This site in Georgia is home to some of the earliest human fossils outside of Africa, and Juliette's discovery is only the SECOND human fossil ever found there (the first was just a single tooth). This significant find illuminates this area as one of the most important prehistoric human sites, and informs more discovery about early human dispersal across Eurasia.

Juliette shares, “I participated in the site’s field school, which gives students the opportunity to gain field experience and knowledge required for a career in archaeology/paleoanthropology. I was there for a month with a few other international students. I had a lot of fun and I am super glad I did it!” 

Listen to her speak with the Associated Press from the dig site (begins at time marker 3:26).

Juliette currently attends Scripps College in Claremont, CA. Three cheers for Country Day alums doing AMAZING things in the world!