A5073635232- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Silicon Effects in Agriculture
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Marine and environmental studies
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Race, Genetics, and Society
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Quality and Safety in Healthcare
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
National Museum of Natural History
2023-2024
Smithsonian Institution
2021-2024
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
2023-2024
National Museums of Kenya
2009-2024
Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
2023-2024
University of Cape Town
2010-2021
University of the Witwatersrand
2021
Faculty of 1000 (United States)
2021
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
2018
Baylor University
2017
The Middle Stone Age in Africa Olorgesailie basin the southern Kenya rift valley contains sediments dating back to 1.2 million years ago, preserving a long archaeological record of human activity and environmental conditions. Three papers present oldest East African evidence (MSA) elucidate system technology behavior associated with origin Homo sapiens . Potts et al. for demise Acheulean that preceded MSA describe variations late hominin anticipate characteristics. transition was accompanied...
The oldest Oldowan tool sites, from around 2.6 million years ago, have previously been confined to Ethiopia’s Afar Triangle. We describe sites at Nyayanga, Kenya, dated 3.032 2.581 ago and expand this distribution by over 1300 kilometers. Furthermore, we found two hippopotamid butchery associated with mosaic vegetation a C 4 grazer–dominated fauna. Tool flaking proficiency was comparable that of younger assemblages, but pounding activities were more common. use-wear bone damage indicate...
Although climate change is considered to have been a large-scale driver of African human evolution, landscape-scale shifts in ecological resources that may shaped novel hominin adaptations are rarely investigated. We use well-dated, high-resolution, drill-core datasets understand dynamics associated with major adaptive transition the archeological record ~24 km from coring site. Outcrops preserve evidence replacement Acheulean by Middle Stone Age (MSA) technological, cognitive, and social...
The assembly of Africa's iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations many mammal lineages, including hominins. grasses are thought have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than Ma sparse, limiting assessment the timing and nature biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene site complexes across eastern Africa. Results...
Living hominoids are distinguished by upright torsos and versatile locomotion. It is hypothesized that these features evolved for feeding on fruit from terminal branches in forests. To investigate the evolutionary context of hominoid adaptive origins, we analyzed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies conjunction with fossils Moroto II site Uganda. The data indicate seasonally dry woodlands earliest evidence abundant C4 grasses Africa based a confirmed age 21 million years ago (Ma). We...
Most of the world’s mountain glaciers have been retreating for more than a century in response to climate change. Glacier retreat is evident on all continents, and rate has accelerated during recent decades. Accurate, spatially explicit information position glacier margins over time useful analyzing patterns measuring reductions surface area. This also essential evaluating how ecosystems are evolving due warming attendant retreat. Here, we present non-comprehensive dataset showing multiple...
The Homa Peninsula, in southwestern Kenya, continues to yield insights into Oldowan hominin landscape behaviors. Late Pliocene locality of Nyayanga (∼3-2.6 Ma) preserves some the oldest tools. At Early Pleistocene Kanjera South (∼2 toolmakers procured a diversity raw materials from over 10 km away and strategically reduced them grassland-dominated ecosystem. Here, we report findings Sare-Abururu, younger (∼1.7 approximately 12 southeast 18 east Nyayanga. Sare-Abururu has yielded 1754...
The Olorgesailie Basin in the South Kenya Rift preserves oldest known evidence for emergence of Middle Stone Age (MSA) eastern Africa between 320 and 295 ka. MSA permanently replaced Acheulean technology following its persistence 1.2 Ma 500 transition hominin technologies ka is significant as typical early Homo sapiens furthermore distinguished by novel behaviours like social exchange networks symbolic communication. Contemporaneous with was a turnover mammal species – one largest...
ABSTRACT Objectives In subsistence populations, high physical activity is typically maintained throughout pregnancy. Market integration shifts patterns to resemble industrialized with more time allocated sedentary behavior. Daasanach semi‐nomadic pastoralists living in northern Kenya face lifestyle heterogeneity due the emergence of a market center. We investigate how women manage energetic demands pregnancy labor tasks and relates variation demands, activity, coping strategies. Methods...
Abstract Kilimanjaro is experiencing the consequences of climate change and multiple land-use pressures. Few paleoenvironmental archeological records exist to examine historical patterns late Holocene ecosystem changes on Kilimanjaro. Here we present pollen, phytolith, charcoal (>125 μm) data from a palustrine sediment core that provide 3000-year radiocarbon-dated record collected wetland near headwaters Maua watershed in alpine ericaceous vegetation zones. From 3000 800 cal yr BP, show...
This paper evaluates risk-oriented frameworks for explaining environmental, social, and economic changes faced by fishing herding communities in the Turkana Basin during after African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka). The orbitally-forced AHP created moist conditions, high lake levels, unusual hydrological connections across much of northern eastern Africa. As arid conditions set rainfall decreased between 5.3 3.9 ka Africa, Lake (NW Kenya) shrank dramatically. Shoreline retreat coincided with an...
In Africa there is a scarcity of information on how plant species that can provide forage for honey bees vary across differentially structured landscapes, and what are the implications such variabilities colony integrity. This research presents new insights into diversity richness pollen collected by Apis mellifera scutellata, subspecies Western bee native to sub-Saharan Africa, at six study sites different degradation levels within semi-arid landscape in Kenya. Ten colonies were established...
This study explores the emergence of Oldowan technology in northeastern part Koobi Fora Formation, focusing on a poorly understood spatial and temporal context. It highlights dynamic interplay between hominins, landscapes, climate during late Pliocene. The archaeological findings present comprehensive analysis stone artifacts from FwJj52 locality that spans terminal Pliocene- earliest Pleistocene. technological patterns at archeological site align with early sites, emphasizing an astute...
<title>Abstract</title> The African hydroclimate played a key role in shaping the evolutionary environment of numerous species including hominins. precipitation is sensitive to insolation and consequently strongly linked Earth’s orbital variations. Here, we utilise singular spectrum analysis extract frequencies from range proxy records climate model dataset generated using HadCM3B-V1.0 model, reveal patterns pan-African forcing variability over past 800,000 years. proxies show good...
The Olorgesailie basin, southern Kenya Rift, is a renowned prehistoric site that preserves evidence of hominin behavior over the past ~1 million years. During this period basin experienced environmental variability in response to orbitally controlled climate changes and tectonic forcing, which together influenced preservation for early human technological innovations. Palaeobotanical data from phytoliths extracted outcrop paleosols show vegetation cover varied subtly across landscape through...