High Risk Exploratory Research-SGER: Initial Paleoanthropological Reconnaissance of the Eritrean Rift Valley

这项提议中概述的实地研究旨在评估非洲大裂谷最后一个未开发区域的潜力，以增强我们对人类起源的了解。在马拉维、坦桑尼亚、肯尼亚和埃塞俄比亚的大裂谷及其附近发现了大量的考古和化石证据，证明了人类的进化。佛罗伦萨大学的一个研究小组已经在厄立特里亚裂谷发现了部分人类化石骨架，与丰富的动物化石遗骸有关。毫无疑问，更全面了解人类历史所需的进一步线索将在厄立特里亚裂谷找到。由于非洲之角长达30年的冲突，厄立特里亚无法进行实地工作。本提案中概述的研究将与厄立特里亚矿业、能源和水资源部以及国家博物馆和阿斯马拉大学合作进行。这些组织急于开发人力，并探索厄立特里亚裂谷，以获取与人类进化有关的化石和考古信息。在这一初步侦察中收集的信息将使我们能够确定特定地点，以便在随后的野外季节进行深入调查、收集和挖掘。

The field research outlined in this proposal is designed to assess the potential of the last unexplored region of Africa's Great Rift Valley for augmenting our knowledge of human origins. Extensive archeological and fossil evidence for human evolution has been found in and adjacent to the Great Rift Valley in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. A research team from the University of Florence has already found a partial fossil human skeleton in the Eritrean Rift, associated with abundant fossil animal remains. No doubt, further clues, necessary for a fuller understanding of humankind's past will be located in the Eritrean Rift Valley. Due to a 30-year-long conflict in the Horn of Africa, access for field work in Eritrea has been impossible. The research outlined in this proposal will be conducted in collaboration with the Eritrean Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Resources, as well as the National Museum and the University of Asmara. These organizations are eager to develop manpower and explore the Eritrean Rift Valley for fossil and archeological information relevant to human evolution. Information gathered in this initial reconnaissance will permit us to identify specific sites for in-depth survey, collection and excavation in subsequent field seasons.