MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION OF EARLY HOMINIDS

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The present project aimed to advance paleoanthropological research at the Konso site, southern Ethiopia, and to conduct comparative morphological analyzes of newly recovered early hominid fossils from Ethiopia. At Konso, we focused on clarifying yet undetermined chronostratigraphic relationships of portions of the Konso Formation series. Emphasis was placed on gaining further resolution needed for effectively interpreting the paleontological and archeological collections in a broader regional East African setting. From combination of field observations, Ar/Ar dating, minor element composition of tephra, magnetostratigraphy, analysis of diatomaceous sediments, substantial resolution was gained in intra- and interbasin comparisons. Systematic paleontological collecting was conducted in the hitherto stratigraphically ill-documented sediments, resulting in important faunal collections of the 1.7 to 1.5 myr time interval. This enabled a comprehensive evaluation of the evolutionary pattern evinced by the Konso mammalian. Comparative morphological research of Ardipithecus and other hominid remains were advanced concerning evolution of the C/P3 complex, postcanine dental size and its relevance to the understanding of sexual dimorphism and diet, and molar enamel thickness and its implication to early hominid phylogenetic relationships and dietary adaptations. Substantial comparative data of dental size, C/P3 morphology, and micro ct enamel thickness were obtained for Gorilla, Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Pongo pygmaeus, Homo sapiens and Papio spp.