Finding the earliest representative of the genus Homo: Adventures at the Ledi-Geraru research site in the Afar of Ethiopia

The lower Awash valley has yielded an incredible number of Australopithecus specimens from 3.8-2.95 Ma (Woranso-Mille, Hadar, Dikika), lithic tool evidence at 2.6 Ma (Gona), and recent recovery of early Homo at 2.8 Ma. The new evidence of Homo, other mammalian fossils, and changing habitats from the Ledi-Geraru fills a significant temporal gap in the fossil record of Africa. The importance of the new hominin finding is in the transitional nature of its morphological features, and the fact that it is a representative member of a population that was possibly affected climate driven habitat change.

For information about attending please contact: E.Goldstein@asu.edu