| Project/Area Number |
11691136
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B).
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 海外学術 |
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| Research Field |
人類学(含生理人類学)
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| Research Institution | National Science Museum, Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
BABA Hisao National Science Museum, Department of Anthropology, Head, 人類研究部, 部長 (90049221)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
楢崎 修一郎 群馬県立自然史博物館, 主任研究員
HYODO Masayuki Kobe University, Research Center for Island Seas, Associate Professor, 内海域機能教育研究センター, 助教授 (60183919)
松浦 秀治 お茶の水女子大学, 生活科学部, 助教授 (90141986)
KAIFU Yousuke National Science Museum, Tokyo, Department of Anthropology, Researcher, 人類研究部, 研究官 (20280521)
JACOB Teuku Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Professor
AZIZ Fachroel Geological Research and Development Centre, Senior Researcher
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2000
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥6,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥2,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥3,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000)
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| Keywords | Homo erectus / Hominid fossils / Human evolution / Palaeoanthropology / Indonesia / Pleistocene / 更新世 / サンギラン |
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| Research Abstract |
The island Java has yielded a number of well-preserved Pleistocene hominid fossils, including the oldest ones so far as known from East Asia. In order to answer various questions concerning human evolution in Asia, we have conducted morphological studies of existing hominid fossil materials, and stratigraphic investigation of a newly discovered well-preserved skull. Major activities and results during this research period are as follows :
1. Laboratory works
Morphological studies of hominid fossils have been done at the Geological Research and Development Centre, Bandung, Indonesia. A number of mandubular and dental remains, as well as the occipital bone fragment found in 1996 were examined, measured, and photographed. In the course of these studies, we found that some of the isolated dental remains previously identified as those of H.erectus were actually those of orang-utans. This finding presents important information in the interpretation of the paleoenvironment of Java during the Lo
… More
wer/Middle Pleistocene, which is currently a matter of debate. In addition to these activities, we have conducted a preliminary morphological investigation of the newly found skull of Homo erectus (see below) at the Laboratory of Bio- and Paleoanthropology, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2. Firld researches
A well-preserved skull of Homo erectus was found in 1999 in the Polojo area along the Solo River, Central Java. We conducted a field research with the aim of investigating the original stratigraphic level and chronological age of this skull. This skull was apparently derived from Middle Pleistocene deposits around this area. This work is important because none of the existing Javanese hominid specimens from this time period have been assigned with good estimates of age.
An interview was given to a group of local people who found this skull, and a trench was dug at the alleged findspot area. Our examination of the stratigraphy around the findspot area indicated that the skull had recently been carried away somewhere from the upstream regions. Further investigation was made in the upstream regions from the findspot area in order to specify possible original outcrops from which the skull had been washed away. We will continue this research after this year. Less
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