Hominid Corridor Research Project

The HCRP was born back in 1983 to close the gap between the archaelogical sites in south and eastern Africa.

Project aims

The Chiwondo Beds represent 4 units, numbered stratigraphically from lowest to highest and refer to lakebeds and fluviatile deposits. Unit 5 is distinguished as the Chitimwe Beds which refer to alluvial fan deposits. The age of the Chiwondo Beds relies on faunal correlation with radiometrically dated biostratigraphic units in eastern Africa (Koobi Fora- and Shungura Formations in Kenya and Ethiopia) and has been dated to 4 to 1.6 mya. Unique in its biogeographic perspective, HCRP studies have shown how the results obtained from the Chiwondo Beds not only reflect local conditions, but the effects of global climate change over the whole of the African continent.

The 2.4 mya old mandible UR 501 is referred to the species Homo rudolfensis, and was found in deposits representing a swamp-to-river channel environment.

Fossil findings

In general, the faunal assemblage is taphonomically biased toward the representation of large terrestrial mammals, crocodiles and fish. Primate remains include cercopithecoid cranio-dental and mandibular remains, as well as a maxillary fragment of Paranthopus boisei (Malema, RC 911) and a mandible of Homo rudolfensis (Uraha, UR 501).

The aquatic origin of the deposits, and the combination of terrestrial and aquatic fossils lead to the conclusion that the Chiwondo- and Chitimbe Beds were part of the early Lake Malawi and/or its immediate surroundings. The composition and abundance of the fossils suggest a similar (paleo)biome as found at Lake Chilwa today.

The sample of vertebrates recovered from the Chiwondo Beds of Northern Malawi now includes well over 1,000 identifiable vertebrate specimens from about 150 fossil localities between the Mwangwabila and Remero Rivers in the north, to the vicinity of Uraha Hill in the south.

Malawi born Yusuf Yuwayeyi about the early reactions of local people and some preconceptions in the population.

Geographical aspects

The Chiwondo- and Chitimbe Beds are located in the Northern region of Malawi and extent form the town of Karonga 80 km southwards to Chilumba. East-westwards they expand about 10 km.

The main fossil bearing areas are the Malema/Mwenirondo and Uraha locations. Malema/Mwenirondo is located about 12 km south-west of Karonga and about 4 to 5 km west to the shores of Lake Malawi, whereas the village Uraha is about 60 km south of Karonga and about 5 km west of the lake shore.

The main research base is located in Karonga at the Cultural and Museum Centre Karonga (CMCK) and its outpost Malema Camp. Both locations serve long-term as research and educational venues as well as the cultural communication between researchers and locals.

Outlook

The current project aims to investigate the metabolic paleoenvironment of the Chiwondo biome. Studying vertical and horizontal distributions of elements of fossil animals will provide extract information about element distribution and flux, to reconstruct the metabolic environment of the Chiwondo Beds. Environmental and individual information of metabolic rates then can be used to infer life history parameters of the respective species.

Reconstructing such a paleo-environment will also provide essential background information that will help to interpret and understand the metabolic parameters of hominids, such as Paranthopus boisei and Homo rudolfensis. The study sample consists of hard tissues (bone, teeth and shells) of fossil animals, including hominids.

Tissue analyses will include circularly polarized transmitted light microscopy (CPL) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). LA-ICP-MS enables the assessment of chemical elements from lithium (6Li) to uranium (238U), whereas CPL visualizes growth lines in the respective tissues.

After 30 years, there are even more questions to be answered.

Dr. Timothy G. Bromage

Hard Tissue Research Unit

Department of Biomaterials & Biomimetics

New York University College of Dentistry

345 East 24th Street

New York, NY 10010-4086

USA

Dr. Friedemann Schrenk

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Sektion Paläoanthropologie

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt

Deutschland

check our services

Initially the project was designed to geographically connect the well-known hominid bearing sites in southern and eastern Africa. Subsequently, the HCRP has developed completely new approaches to the study of early human environments in its Paleobiomics initiatives.

The Hominid Corridor Research Project began a long-term study of the Malawi Rift in 1983, focusing on the biogeographic role of southern and eastern Africa on the origin and dispersion of Plio-Pleistocene faunas, including early hominins. Long-term paleontological surveys were conducted in the Chiwondo- and Chitimbe Beds.

The Chiwondo Beds represent 4 units, numbered stratigraphically from lowest to highest and refer to lakebeds and fluviatile deposits. Unit 5 is distinguished as the Chitimwe Beds which refer to alluvial fan deposits. The age of the Chiwondo Beds relies on faunal correlation with radiometrically dated biostratigraphic units in eastern Africa (Koobi Fora- and Shungura Formations in Kenya and Ethiopia) and has been dated to 4 to 1.6 mya. Unique in its biogeographic perspective, HCRP studies have shown how the results obtained from the Chiwondo Beds not only reflect local conditions, but the effects of global climate change over the whole of the African continent.

The Chiwondo- and Chitimbe Beds are located in the Northern region of Malawi and extent form the town of Karonga 80 km southwards to Chilumba. East-westwards they expand about 10 km. The main fossil bearing areas are the Malema/Mwenirondo and Uraha locations. Malema/Mwenirondo is located about 12 km south-west of Karonga and about 4 to 5 km west to the shores of Lake Malawi, whereas the village Uraha is about 60 km south of Karonga and about 5 km west of the lake shore.

The current project aims to investigate the metabolic PALEO-environment of the Chiwondo biome. Studying vertical and horizontal distributions of elements of fossil animals will provide extract information about element distribution and flux, to reconstruct the metabolic environment of the Chiwondo Beds. Environmental and individual information of metabolic rates then can be used to infer life history parameters of the respective species.

Reconstructing such a paleo-environment will also provide essential background information that will help to interpret and understand the metabolic parameters of hominids, such as Paranthopus boisei and Homo rudolfensis. The study sample consists of hard tissues (bone, teeth and shells) of fossil animals, including hominids.

Tissue analyses will include circularly polarized transmitted light microscopy (CPL) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). LA-ICP-MS enables the assessment of chemical elements from lithium (6Li) to uranium (238U), whereas CPL visualizes growth lines in the respective tissues.