POWRE: Palynological Investigations at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.

0074745从坦桑尼亚奥杜瓦伊峡谷采集的沉积物样本将用于分析化石花粉。 沉积物样品是从被认为是湖泊或湿地环境的沉积物中收集的，这些沉积物来自峡谷中两个定义明确的地层，即第一层和第二层。 这些沉积物可以追溯到203 - 178万年前（m.y.a.）。和1.75-1.70百万年，是考古学家研究早期人类（即能人）的一个重要领域。 最近在峡谷的考古和地质调查集中在重建该地区的景观和古生态学，以更好地了解这些原始人生存的环境。 孢粉学工作包括几个部分。 首先，PI需要熟悉非洲花粉分类群和早期更新世材料的制备方法。 其次，将分析从最低层II确定的各种化石湿地环境的样品的化石花粉含量。 第三，校准数据集相结合的现代花粉光谱和水质数据，从不同的湿地环境在附近的网站被认为是类似的Oldowan湿地环境将开发，然后应用到收集的数据从最低床II。 据推测，花粉光谱从不同的湿地栖息地将作为一个代理确定古湿地环境和水质条件。 最后，将对来自第一层的层状湖泊沉积物样品进行花粉化石分析，并确定区域古生态。 古生态和推断的水质信息将提供关键的见解更新世早期的环境和景观在奥杜威，在一个关键的时间在原始人类的历史。 这些信息对于考古学家和地质学家为这一时期和地区构建景观模型至关重要。 这个POWRE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，以便更完整地了解早期原始人类的土地使用情况，而且它是在PI职业生涯的关键时刻，从积极的研究中抽出时间来抚养家庭。

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.