Reconstructing Olduvai

Dr. Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo is a Professor of Prehistory in the University of Alcalá's Department of History and Philosophy. He is co-director of Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA) and of the Olduvai Palaeoanthropology and Palaeoecology Project (TOPPP). He has also co-directed paleoanthropological projects in Peninj, Eyasi, and Olduvai Gorge and has been guest professor at the Universities of Harvard, Rutgers, St. Louis, and Rice. His specialties are taphonomy and palaoanthropology.

Reconstructing Olduvai: The Behavior of Early Humans at David's Site provides the necessary information for future generations of archaeologists to peer into the lifestyle of early humans. Much of what is known about these hominins originates from the detailed excavations that Mary Leakey carried out at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. Since then, work at Olduvai has produced a wealth of new fossils, resulting in the discovery of David's Site, the biggest early Pleistocene site in the world. This will be an indispensable resource for students, academics, and researchers who share an interest in the evolution of early human behavior.Written by leaders of present-day excavations at Olduvai Gorge, this book is systematically divided into three parts to deliver a clear account of the research advancements at David's Site. Part I focuses on the presentation of the site and the description of its geological and palaeoecological reconstruction. Part II examines hominin feeding habits, including how they brought, processed, and consumed animals at the site. Part III explores hominin technologies, including reconstruction of the stone-tool activities carried out at the site.

Part I 1. Introduction: The discovery and excavation of David's Site (DS) 2. The FLK Zinj paleolandscape: Reconstruction of a 1.84 Ma wooded habitat in the FLK Zinj-AMK-PTK-DS archaeological complex, Middle Bed I 3. The geological reconstruction of DS Part II 4. A brief summary of the history of the research of the Olduvai Bed I archaeological sites and their impact on the reconstruction of early hominin lifeways 5. Reconstructing early human behavior through the taphonomic analysis of DS Part III 6. Reconstructing early human behavior through the technological analysis of DS 7. Conclusions