Later Neogene African Hominoids: Evolution, Environments and the Origin of the Hominidae

本提案的主要目的是继续在肯尼亚巴林哥湖以西的图根山进行挖掘。该地区包含一系列极好的化石地质地层，可追溯到1600万至大约150万年前；在高级灵长类动物的进化过程中具有重要意义的时期，介于第一批原始人或人类祖先出现的时期之间。该项目已经发现了新的灵长类动物标本以及其他哺乳动物化石的遗迹。总的来说，这些标本不仅阐明了各种高等灵长类动物发展的解剖学细节，而且还将它们置于环境背景中，从而阐明了塑造物种进化的条件。进一步的化石遗址将被确定，而目前已知的遗址将继续挖掘。

The primary objective of this proposal is to continue excavations in Tugen Hills, west of Lake Baringo, Kenya. This region contains an excellent series of fossiliferous geological strata dating to the period of 16 to approximately 1.5 million years ago; a time of major significance in the evolution of the higher primates and bracketing the time of appearance of the first hominids or human ancestors. The project has already discovered new primate specimens as well as remains of other mammalian fossils. In total, these specimens are elucidating not only the anatomical details of the development of various higher primates, but also setting them within an environmental context, thus clarifying the conditions which molded the species' evolution. Further fossiliferous sites will be identified while currently known sites will continue to be excavated.