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

本项目的重点是在埃塞俄比亚孔索进行研究，对人类进化和古环境的各个方面进行研究。我们继续在孔索遗址进行实地考察，并确定了孔索最古老的阿舍利遗址的位置。我们进一步分析了年代学数据，世界上最古老的阿舍利时代被确定为1.7 Ma。这表明直立人和阿舍利人组合的出现在时间上是接近的。通过详细的古地磁采样和分析，我们修订和完善了孔索1.45至1.7 Ma的年代地层。记录了1.5至1.6 Ma水平的独特事件/偏移，这些古地磁结果在孔索内相关和全球磁性地层记录中都很重要。我们进一步研究了马科、牛科、猪科、长鼻目和鸟类的系统学和古环境指示。结合对Bouri Elephas材料的挖掘和分析，提出了1.5至1.0 Ma之间的欧亚联系。通过同位素分析，我们验证了迄今为止基于沉积学和分类组成的Konso古环境假设。灰壤和有蹄类牙釉质的碳和氧同位素的结果广泛支持以前的假设，并使进一步的解释和讨论。

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.