The Paleontology of African Primates

希尔博士和他的合作者将继续他们的研究， 肯尼亚图根山地区，并进行了另外三次 田野工作的季节 在这个区域内， 在五个主要的地层中，从1400万年前的 到不到240万年前 除了广泛的 哺乳动物物种，这些沉积物产生了两个重要的 灵长类动物遗骸：一个原执政官（早期猿类）标本，可追溯到 大约1200万年前，一个原始人（人类）， 的年龄。五百万年。 这是已知最古老的原始人类 试样 该小组将继续对图根进行系统的检查 特别关注沉积物， 可能会产生重要的灵长类化石。 的 地层层序将得到细化， 通过K/Ar和古地磁测年技术确定。 这 该地区特别重要，因为它填补了重要的 人类古生物学记录的空白。 从两个地区 非洲和世界其他地区的好样本更高 灵长类动物和相关动物可在 3200万到1400万年前， 3.6一百万年到现在。 然而，信息 至于其间的时间，从1400万年到400万年， 缺乏 非洲现有的最佳相关部分是 由图根山提供，因此，那里的研究 重要. 从更广泛的角度来看，该项目意义重大，因为它 有助于追踪人类的发展 到 了解我们自己，因为我们今天，有必要跟踪 我们的长期历史，并阐明这一进程， 其中，

Dr. Hill and his collaborators will continue their research in the Tugen Hills region of Kenya and conduct an additional three seasons of fieldwork. Within this area fossiliferous sediments, in five major formations, range from older than 14 million years to less than 2.4 million years ago. In addition to a wide range of mammalian species, these sediments have yielded two important primate remains: a Proconsul (early ape) specimen dated to approximately 12 million years ago and a hominid (human) with an age of ca. 5 million years. This is the oldest known hominid specimen. The group will continue their systematic examination of the Tugen Hills and in particular focus on sediments which have the potential to yield significant primate fossils. The stratigraphic sequence will be refined and absolute ages determined by K/Ar and paleomagnetic dating techniques. This region is particularly important because it fills an important gap in the human paleontological record. From areas in both Africa and other parts of the world, good samples of higher primates and associated fauna are available for the period from 32 to 14 million years ago and also for a subsequent period from 3.6 million years to the present. However, information concerning the intervening time, from 14 to 4 million years is lacking. The best available relevant section in Africa is provided by the Tugen Hills, and thus, research there is important. In a broader perspective this project is significant because it helps to trace the development of the human species. To understand ourselves as we are today, it is necessary to trace our long-term history and to elucidate the processes which are reflected therein.