ABSTRACT P.I. John Fleagle SBR-9312842 Fossil remains of human ancestors have been carefully examined anatomically to show that physical changes occurred through time and to attempt to reconstruct likely behaviors of the individuals and species concerned. These fossils are usually not isolated finds: they are frequently found in association with other animal remains. Studies of these animal remains have contributed a great deal to paleoanthropology, and have been used to reconstruct environments to determine the relative ages of sites that cannot be dated by absolute techniques. Also, a picture of environmental and animal change or stability over long periods of time can be derived, over time, and across different areas. This comparison is important for identifying possible ecological pressures that may have affected the evolution and behavioral ecology of different groups, including humans. This dissertation project will compare the animal remains from early proto-human sites from the African Pliocene by using various quantitative methods of analysis with the goal of reconstructing the habitats and analyzing the ecological structure of these assemblages. The information will be used to test current ideas regarding the behavior and adaptation of early proto-humans. The multiple analytic approaches to be employed will enable the development of more reliable interpretations of site similarities and differences. *** Panthrojfried9312842.abs F P3 P v P3 P v v Õ v D < u9 D t& P ^pS ^ S A g Õ F P FGP g Õ FG ^9 Fp FG ^9 Fp FGP3 P v P3 P v v Õ vp3 P v P 3 P v v Õ X 0 2 4 9 V X ! ! ! D X X ( Times New Roman Symbol & Arial " h E E = Jonathan Friedlaender Jonathan Friedlaender
