Paleoenvironments and human evolution in eastern Africa, with emphasis in research at Konso, Ethiopia

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The present project focussed on research at Konso, Ethiopia, in conducting research on diverse aspects of human evolution and paleoenvironments. We continued field work at the Konso sites, and determined the in situ position of the oldest Acheulean assembage at Konso. We analyzed further chronological data, and the world's oldest Acheulean assembage was determined to date at 1.7 Ma. This demonstrates that the emergence of Homo erectus and Acheulean assemblages were close in timing. We revised and refined the chronostratigraphy of the 1.45 to 1.7 Ma levels at Konso, by means of detailed paleomagnetic sampling and analysis. Unique events/excursions in the 1.5 to 1.6 Ma levels were documented, these paleomagnetic results important in both intra-Konso correlation and in interepreting the global magentostratigraphic record. We further investigated the systematics and paleoenvironmental indications of Equidae, Bovidae, Suidae, Proboscidea, and Aves. Together with excavation and analysis of the Bouri Elephas material, an Eurasian link between 1.5 and 1.0 Ma was suggested. By means of isotopic analysis, we tested our hypotheses of Konso paleoenvironments hitherto based on sedimentology and taxonomic compositions. Results of palosol and ungulate enamel C and O isotopes broadly support previous hypotheses, and enable further interpretations and discussion.