High Risk Exploratory Research-SGER: Initial Paleoanthropological Reconnaissance of the Eritrean Rift Valley

本提案中概述的实地研究旨在评估非洲大裂谷最后一个未开发地区的潜力，以增加我们对人类起源的了解。在马拉维、坦桑尼亚、肯尼亚和埃塞俄比亚的大裂谷及其附近地区发现了人类进化的大量考古和化石证据。佛罗伦萨大学的一个研究小组已经在厄立特里亚裂谷发现了部分人类骨骼化石，与大量的动物化石遗骸有关。毫无疑问，进一步的线索，对于更全面地了解人类的过去是必要的，将位于厄立特里亚大裂谷。由于非洲之角长达30年的冲突，在厄立特里亚进行实地工作一直是不可能的。本建议中概述的研究将与厄立特里亚矿业、能源和水资源部以及国家博物馆和阿斯马拉大学合作进行。这些组织渴望发展人力资源，探索厄立特里亚大裂谷，寻找与人类进化有关的化石和考古信息。在这次初步侦察中收集的信息将使我们能够确定具体地点，以便在随后的实地季节进行深入调查、收集和挖掘。

The field research outlined in this proposal is designed to assess the potential of the last unexplored region of Africa's Great Rift Valley for augmenting our knowledge of human origins. Extensive archeological and fossil evidence for human evolution has been found in and adjacent to the Great Rift Valley in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. A research team from the University of Florence has already found a partial fossil human skeleton in the Eritrean Rift, associated with abundant fossil animal remains. No doubt, further clues, necessary for a fuller understanding of humankind's past will be located in the Eritrean Rift Valley. Due to a 30-year-long conflict in the Horn of Africa, access for field work in Eritrea has been impossible. The research outlined in this proposal will be conducted in collaboration with the Eritrean Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Resources, as well as the National Museum and the University of Asmara. These organizations are eager to develop manpower and explore the Eritrean Rift Valley for fossil and archeological information relevant to human evolution. Information gathered in this initial reconnaissance will permit us to identify specific sites for in-depth survey, collection and excavation in subsequent field seasons.