The primary objective of this proposal is to continue excavations in Tugen Hills, west of Lake Baringo, Kenya. This region contains an excellent series of fossiliferous geological strata dating to the period of 16 to approximately 1.5 million years ago; a time of major significance in the evolution of the higher primates and bracketing the time of appearance of the first hominids or human ancestors. The project has already discovered new primate specimens as well as remains of other mammalian fossils. In total, these specimens are elucidating not only the anatomical details of the development of various higher primates, but also setting them within an environmental context, thus clarifying the conditions which molded the species' evolution. Further fossiliferous sites will be identified while currently known sites will continue to be excavated.
