POWRE: Palynological Investigations at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.

从坦桑尼亚Olduvai峡谷收集的沉积物样本将用于分析化石花粉。沉积物样品采集自两个明确的地层（第1层和第2层）的湖泊或湿地环境沉积物。这些沉积物分别可追溯到距今203 - 178万年前和距今1.75-1.7万年前，是考古学家研究早期人科动物（即能人）的重要研究领域。最近的考古和地质调查集中在重建该地区的景观和古生态，以便更好地了解这些原始人类生存的环境。孢粉学工作由几个部分组成。首先，PI需要熟悉非洲花粉分类群和早更新世材料的制备方法。其次，将分析来自最下层II层的各种化石湿地环境样本的化石花粉含量。第三，将现代花粉谱与附近不同湿地环境的水质数据相结合，建立一个与Oldowan湿地环境相似的校准数据集，然后将其应用于最低层II收集的数据。假设不同湿地生境的花粉谱可以作为古湿地环境和水质条件的代表。最后，将对1层层状湖泊沉积物样本进行化石花粉分析，并确定区域古生态。古生态和推断的水质信息将为人类历史关键时期的奥杜瓦伊早更新世环境和景观提供重要见解。这些信息对于考古学家和地质学家正在为这一时期和地区构建的景观模型至关重要。这项power提案不仅为PI提供了一个独特的机会，可以与其他学科的科学家合作，以更全面地了解早期人类的土地利用情况，而且在PI从积极的研究中抽出时间来养家糊口之后，它正值PI职业生涯的关键时刻。

0074745GomanSediment samples collected from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania will be analyzed for fossil pollen. The sediment samples were collected from deposits recognized as lake or wetland environments from two well-defined strata, Bed I and Lowermost Bed II, from the gorge. These deposits, which date to 2.03-1.78 million years ago (m.y.a.) and 1.75-1.70 m.y.a respectively, are an important area of research for archaeologists investigating early hominids, i.e. Homo habilis. Recent archaeological and geological investigations at the gorge have focused upon reconstructing the landscape and paleoecology of the region in order to better understand the environment within which these hominids subsisted. The palynological work consists of several parts. At first the PI will need to familiarize herself with African pollen taxa and with preparation methodologies for early Pleistocene material. Second, samples from a variety of fossil wetland environments identified from Lowermost Bed II will be analyzed for their fossil pollen content. Third, a calibration data set combining the modern pollen spectra and water quality data from varied wetland environments at nearby sites thought to be comparable analogues for Oldowan wetland environments will be developed and then applied to the data collected from Lowermost Bed II. It is hypothesized that the pollen spectra from different wetland habitats will serve as a proxy for determining paleo-wetland environments and water quality conditions. Finally, samples of laminated lake sediments from Bed I will be analyzed for fossil pollen and the regional paleoecology determined. The paleoecological and inferred water quality information will provide key insights into early Pleistocene environments and landscape at Olduvai, at a key time in Hominid history. This information will be of critical importance to the landscape models archaeologists and geologists are constructing for this period and region. Not only does this POWRE proposal provide a unique opportunity for the PI to work with scientists from other disciplines in order to develop a more complete picture of early hominid land use, it comes at a critical time in the PI's career after taking time off from active research to raise a family.