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2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Study of hominoid evolution and human origin in East Africa

Research Project

Project/Area Number 10041164
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A).

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section海外学術
Research Field 人類学(含生理人類学)
Research InstitutionKYOTO UNIVERSITY

Principal Investigator

ISHIDA Hidemi  Kyoto Univ., Graduate Sch.of Science, Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (60027480)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) NAKATSUKASA Masato  Kyoto Univ., Graduate Sch.of Science, Assoc.Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (00227828)
NAKAYA Hideo  Kagawa Univ., Faculty of Engineering, Assoc.Prof., 工学部, 助教授 (20180424)
SAWADA Yoshihiro  Shimane Univ., Faculty of Science and Engineering, Prof., 総合理工学部, 教授 (80196328)
KUNIMATSU Yutaka  Kyoto Univ., Primate Research Institute, Lecturer, 霊長類研究所, 助手 (80243111)
NAKANO Yoshihiko  Osaka Univ., Faculty of Human Sciences, Lecturer, 人間科学部, 助手 (50217808)
Project Period (FY) 1998 – 2000
KeywordsHominoid evolution / middle and late Miocene / east Africa / Human origin and evolution / paleontological study / origin of mankind / Nacholapithecus / Samburupithecus
Research Abstract

Despite its central role for the evolution of hominoids and human origins, fossil evidences from middle-to-late Miocene from east Africa are still scarce. Hence, this age is colled the 'great gap of fossil evidence" in human evolution. This project has focused on this yet-to-known tie period and conducted excavations for years. In 2000, excavations and geological surveys have been conducted in Nachola and Samburu Hills, northern Kenya as had been planned in the initial research proposal. Results of the research are as follows.
Nachola is a very fossil rich area and abundant fossil specimens have been collected. We did and extensive excavation at the BG-K fossil Site, where the bulk of hypodigm of Nacholapithecus kerioi, new genus and species has been collected. We collected additional fossil specimens and removed a partly weathered basalt layer which covers the fossil bearing sediments. The work area is 160m north to south and 30m east to west. The layer of basalt is 5m in thickness. The total amount of the basaltic sand and rock taken by labors is about 10,000 tons. The setting for the 2001 field season is thus completed. Number of the new fossil specimens exceeded 50.
Geological survey in Samburu Hills has been conducted at river Nakapoleterado and Moru Abeyo areas. Taphonomic analyses have been done to investigate the duration and the pattern of the sediment formation.
In the forthcoming seasons, it is expected that numerous Nacholapithecus kerioi specimens will be unearthed from the BG-K Fossil Site. One troop of individuals could give a clue to reveal the social structure of this fossil hominoid.

  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All Other

All Publications (12 results)

  • [Publications] Kabeto K.,Sawada Y.,Iizumi S.,and Watatsuki T.: "Mantle sources and magma-crust interactions in volcanic rocks from the northern Kenya rift : geochemical evidence."Lithos. 56(23). 111-139 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Masato Nakatsukasa et al.: "Morphology of the Hallucial Phalanges in Extant Anthropoids and Fossil Hominoids"Zeit.Anthrop.Morphol.. (In press).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Ishida H., et al.: "New Hominoid Genus from Middle Miocene of Nachola, Kenya"Anthropologica 1 Science. 107(2). 189-191 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Sawada Y. et al.: "Estimation of emplacement tempratures of pyroclastic fiows using H C ratios of Carbonized wood."J.of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 104. 1-20 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Tsujikawa H. et al.: "A new Miocene bovid from the Namurungule Formation, northern Kenya : Samburucerus ethekoni gen.et sp.nov.(Artiodactyla, Mammlia)"J.of Vertebrate Palaeontology. (In prep.).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Pickford M.,Kunimatsu Y. et al: "Un nouveau genere d 'hominoide du Miocene Inferior d 'A frique oriente : Uganapithecus"Comptes Rendus de1'Academie des Sciences, Paris. 331. 227-233 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Kabeto K., Sawada Y., Iizumi S., and Watatsuki T.: "Mantle sources and magma-crust interactions in volcanic rocks from the northern Kenya rift : geochemical evidence."Lithos. 56 (23). 111-139 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Masato Nakatsukasa et al.: "Morphology of the Hallucial Phalanges in Extant Anthropoids and Fossil Hominoids."Zeit.Anthrop.Morphol.. (in press).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Ishida H., et al.: "New Hominoid Genus from Middle Miocene of Nachola, Kenya"Anthropological Science. 107 (2). 189-191 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Sawada Y.et al.: "Estimation of emplacement temperatures of pyroclastic flows using H C ratios of Carbonized wood."J.of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 104. 1-20 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Tsujikawa H.et al.: "A new Miocene bovid from the Namurungule Formation, northern Kenya : Samburucerus ethekoni gen.et sp.nov.(Artiodactyla, Mammalia)"J.of Vertebrate Palaeontology. (in press).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Pickford M., Kunimatsu Y.et al: "Un nouveau genere d 'hominoide du Miocene Inferior d 'Afrique oriente : Uganapithecus"Comptes Rendus de 1 'Academie des Sciences, Paris. 331. 227-233 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2002-03-26  

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