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Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context

Volume 1: Geology, Geochronology, Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Editors:
  1. Terry Harrison

    1. Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, USA

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  • This volume is an authoritative and comprehensive account of the important fossil hominin site of Laetoli in northern Tanzania
  • Provides a compendium of research papers dealing with the geology, geochronology, paleoecology, taphonomy and paleobotany
  • Presents new information on the modern-day Serengeti ecosystem to help provide baseline data for modeling Laetoli during the Pliocene
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology (VERT)

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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. Laetoli Revisited: Renewed Paleontological and Geological Investigations at Localities on the Eyasi Plateau in Northern Tanzania

    • Terry Harrison
    Pages 1-15

  3. Paleontological Localities on the Eyasi Plateau, Including Laetoli

    • Terry Harrison, Amandus Kweka
    Pages 17-45

  4. Sedimentology, Lithostratigraphy and Depositional History of the Laetoli Area

    • Peter Ditchfield, Terry Harrison
    Pages 47-76

  5. 40Ar/39Ar Dating of Laetoli, Tanzania

    • Alan L. Deino
    Pages 77-97

  6. Petrology, Geochemistry and Age of Satiman, Lemagurut and Oldeani: Sources of the Volcanic Deposits of the Laetoli Area

    • Godwin F. Mollel, Carl C. Swisher III, Mark D. Feigenson, Michael J. Carr
    Pages 99-119

  7. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Laetoli Area Tuffs: Lower Laetolil through Naibadad Beds

    • Lindsay J. McHenry
    Pages 121-141

  8. Geochemical and Mineralogic Characterization of Middle Stone Age Tools of Laetoli, Tanzania, and Comparisons with Possible Source Materials

    • Katherine A. Adelsberger, Karl R. Wirth, Audax Z. P. Mabulla, Daniel C. Bowman
    Pages 143-165

  9. The Ecology and Biogeography of the Endulen-Laetoli Area in Northern Tanzania

    • Peter Andrews, Marion K. Bamford, Efrem-Fred Njau, Godson Leliyo
    Pages 167-200

  10. Phytoliths and Pollen, the Microscopic Plant Remains in Pliocene Volcanic Sediments Around Laetoli, Tanzania

    • Lloyd Rossouw, Louis Scott
    Pages 201-215

  11. Fossil Woods

    • Marion K. Bamford
    Pages 217-233

  12. Fossil Leaves, Fruits and Seeds

    • Marion K. Bamford
    Pages 235-252

  13. Serengeti Micromammal Communities and the Paleoecology of Laetoli, Tanzania

    • Denné N. Reed
    Pages 253-263

  14. The Taphonomy and Paleoenvironmental Implications of the Laetoli Micromammals

    • Denné N. Reed, Christiane Denys
    Pages 265-278

  15. Coprolites: Taphonomic and Paleoecological Implications

    • Terry Harrison
    Pages 279-292

  16. Stable Isotopic Analyses of Laetoli Fossil Herbivores

    • John D. Kingston
    Pages 293-328

  17. Feeding Ecology and Niche Partitioning of the Laetoli Ungulate Faunas

    • Thomas M. Kaiser
    Pages 329-354

  18. Paleoenvironments of Laetoli, Tanzania as Determined by Antelope Habitat Preferences

    • Laura C. Bishop, Thomas W. Plummer, Fritz Hertel, Kris Kovarovic
    Pages 355-366

  19. Environmental Change within the Laetoli Fossiliferous Sequence: Vegetation Catenas and Bovid Ecomorphology

    • Kris Kovarovic, Peter Andrews
    Pages 367-380

  20. Large Mammal Evidence for the Paleoenvironment of the Upper Laetolil and Upper Ndolanya Beds of Laetoli, Tanzania

    • Denise F. Su
    Pages 381-392
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Keywords

About this book

This volume 1 and its companion volume 2 present the results of new investigations into the geology, paleontology and paleoecology of the early hominin site of Laetoli in northern Tanzania. The site is one of the most important paleontological and paleoanthropological sites in Africa, worldrenowned for the discovery of fossils of the early hominin Australopithecus afarensis, as well as remarkable trails of its footprints. The first volume provides new evidence on the geology, geochronology, ecology, ecomorphology and taphonomy of the site. The second volume describes newly discovered fossil hominins from Laetoli, belonging to Australopithecus afarensis and Paranthropus aethiopicus, and presents detailed information on the systematics and paleobiology of the diverse associated fauna. Together, these contributions provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of a fossil hominin site, and they offer important new insights into the early stages of human evolution and its context.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“Volume 1 begins with a review of the most recent paleontological and geological investigations in the Laetoli area, including a reassessment of the best-known fossil localities; it then sorts through the geology of the region. … should be in any library with natural history collections. … provide a critical resource for human evolution studies, and will appeal to geologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic and professional audiences, all levels.” (M. A. Wilson, Choice, Vol. 48 (11), July, 2011)

“Harrison has compiled a large number of generally impressive reports stemming from this renewed work at Laetoli into a handsome two-volume set. … Volume 1 comprises 19 chapters devoted largely to geology, geochronology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. … Harrison is to be congratulated for having assembled an extraordinary team of research collaborators to investigate (or reinvestigate) it to its full extent. … It will be an indispensible resource for students of African Neogene paleontology, geology, and (especially) paleoanthropology.” (Frederick E. Grine, The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 87, March, 2012)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, USA

    Terry Harrison

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