Geoscience methods lead to paleo‐anthropological discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia

WoldeGabriel, Giday; Renne, Paul R.; Ambrose, Stanley H.; Asfaw, Berhane; White, Tim D.

doi:10.1029/2004eo290001

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…For example, faulting and strain localization controls magma ascent and ponding in the continental crust, which establishes silicic magma reservoirs; tectonic faulting and caldera collapse generate basins, which develop large deep lakes in periods of humidity; lakes and river basins along the rift zone dictate site selection and resource availability for hominin populations; and the establishment of deep groundwater circulation may in turn affect the style of volcanism. To fully understand the links between environmental changes and human evolution, volcanic and tectonic processes 50 51 must be appreciated alongside the palaeoclimate evidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A pulse of mid-Pleistocene rift volcanism in Ethiopia at the dawn of modern humans

et al. 2016

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The Ethiopian Rift Valley hosts the longest record of human co-existence with volcanoes on Earth, however, current understanding of the magnitude and timing of large explosive eruptions in this region is poor. Detailed records of volcanism are essential for interpreting the palaeoenvironments occupied by our hominin ancestors; and also for evaluating the volcanic hazards posed to the 10 million people currently living within this active rift zone. Here we use new geochronological evidence to suggest that a 200 km-long segment of rift experienced a major pulse of explosive volcanic activity between 320 and 170 ka. During this period, at least four distinct volcanic centres underwent large-volume (>10 km3) caldera-forming eruptions, and eruptive fluxes were elevated five times above the average eruption rate for the past 700 ka. We propose that such pulses of episodic silicic volcanism would have drastically remodelled landscapes and ecosystems occupied by early hominin populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A pulse of mid-Pleistocene rift volcanism in Ethiopia at the dawn of modern humans

et al. 2016

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“…Were the development of tools and the exodus from Africa a passive or direct response to some paleoenvironmental or climatic stresses (Ashley 2008)? These kinds of questions go far beyond geochronology, as a specialty, and even geology, in general, but sedimentary geology does have a critical role to play in the interdisciplinary research into human origins (Behrensmeyer 1982;Feibel 1997;Ashley 2000;WoldeGabriel et al 2004;NRC 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary Geology and Human Origins: A Fresh Look at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Ashley¹,

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo²,

Bunn³

et al. 2010

Journal of Sedimentary Research

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Recent field work at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) using sedimentary geology, in particular high-resolution paleoenvironmental reconstruction and isotope geochemistry, has revealed that freshwater was in proximity to a number of the rich fossil sites in Beds I and II (, 2.0-1.0 Ma). This paper presents the first geological evidence for springs associated with archaeological sites in this semiarid rift basin. The springs appear to be limited to a small area within the basin and were likely connected to faults that acted as conduits for groundwater. Tufas associated with ten archaeological sites have stable-isotope signatures occurring in a cluster bounded by d 18 O ratios from 26% to +1%, and the d 13 C ratios from 25% to +2%. The d 18 O values cluster around 24%, that of precipitation in the region, indicating a meteoric source. The longevity of the spring record reflects a hydrologic system that apparently persisted for hundreds of thousands of years. Previous landscape reconstructions depicted the archaeological sites on the lake margin of paleo Lake Olduvai, as an alkaline playa. The discovery of springs at or near the archaeological sites provides fresh insights for interpreting hominin behavior during this key time in evolution with respect to procuring food, water, and materials for stone tools, as well as hominin adaptation to climate change and paleoenvironmental change. The idea that spring deposits may be in proximity to archaeological sites could lead to discovery of new sites at other hominin fossil localities in the East African Rift System (EARS).

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“…Many authors have noted general linkages between human evolution and tectonic activity in relation to very large-scale trends such as climate change, speciation resulting from formation of geographical barriers at a continental scale, or increased opportunities for the exposure and discovery of archaeological and fossil finds (Coppens 1994;Gamble 1993Gamble , 1998Partridge et al 1995a, b;Partridge 1997;Redfield et al 2004;Ruddiman & Raymo 1988;Thomas 1985;WoldeGabriel et al 2004). Others have drawn attention to the mosaic character of African Rift environments, creating variety of potential food resources, abundant surface water and opportunities for niche diversification and specialisation (Cachel & Harris 1998;Foley 1995;Stern 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%