MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION OF EARLY HOMINIDS

本项目旨在促进埃塞俄比亚南部Konso遗址的古人类学研究，并对从埃塞俄比亚新发现的早期原始人化石进行比较形态分析。在Konso，我们的重点是澄清Konso组系列部分尚未确定的年代地层关系。重点是在更广泛的东非区域背景下取得有效解释古生物和考古收藏品所需的进一步解决办法。结合野外观测、Ar/Ar测年、火山灰岩微量元素组成、磁性地层学、硅藻质沉积物分析，在盆内和盆间对比中取得了较好的分辨率。在迄今地层学记录不良的沉积物中进行了系统的古生物采集，产生了1.7至1.5 MYR时间间隔的重要动物群采集。这使得对近索哺乳动物所表现出的进化模式进行了全面的评估。Ardipithecus和其他原始人遗骸的比较形态研究包括C/P3复合体的进化、犬齿后牙齿大小及其与性别二型性和饮食的理解的相关性、磨牙牙釉质厚度及其对早期原始人系统发育关系和饮食适应的意义。在牙齿大小、C/P3形态和显微ct牙釉质厚度方面获得了大猩猩、潘人、潘人、Pongo侏儒、智人和Papio spp的大量比较数据。

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.