Study of Archeological Sites and Fossil Hominid Localities in the Turkana Basin

布朗博士和他的同事们将继续他在肯尼亚北部图尔卡纳盆地地区的地质研究，对特定的分区进行详细研究，以确定当地的古环境条件。其中一些代表了原始(人类)化石标本保存异常完好的地点，而另一些则是原始人类材料的潜在来源。考古遗址也将按年代顺序进行审查和编排。布朗博士将提供当地剖面的详细描述，分析沉积物，并记录岩性的横向变化。这项研究的目标不仅是确定重要地点的年代，而且还要确定当地的古环境条件，并在关键时期重建景观。在这个过程中，布朗博士还将寻找更多的考古和古生物遗迹。布朗博士将在其中工作的东非裂谷是与过去400万年人类发展有关的主要证据来源。一些单独的地点已经得到了很好的研究，但另一些还没有，布朗博士是第一个尝试进行时间和气候综合的人。这项研究有助于实现这一目标。了解人类发展的历史是重要的，不仅要确定沿途的里程碑，而且要重建人类出现时不断变化的环境，因为很明显，物种对环境中的这种流动做出反应并受到其影响。这项研究将有助于实现这些目标。

Continuing his geological research in the Turkana Basin region of Northern Kenya, Dr. Brown and his colleagues will conduct a detailed study of specific subareas to determine local paleoenvironmental conditions. Some represent sites where hominid (human) fossil specimens are exceptionally well preserved while others are potential sources of hominid materials. Archaeological sites of great antiquity will also be examined and set in chronological order. Dr. Brown will provide detailed description of local sections, analyze sediments, and document lateral variation in lithologies. The goal of the research is not only to date important localities but also to determine local paleoenvironmental conditions and reconstruct landscapes at critical periods of time. In this process, Dr. Brown will also search for additional sites with archaeological and paleontological remains. The East African Rift Valley in which Dr. Brown will work is the prime source of evidence which relates to the development of humanity over the last four million years. Some individual sites have been well studied but others have not, and Dr. Brown is the first to attempt a chronological and climatic synthesis. This research contributes to that goal. To understand the history of human development is important, not only to date milestones along the road but also to reconstruct the shifting environment in which humans emerged, since it is clear that species respond to and are shaped by such fluxuations in their environment. This research will help to accomplish these goals.