Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction: The Laetoli Hominins and Associated Fauna

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series ((VERT))

Abstract

Laetoli in northern Tanzania is one of the most important paleontological and paleoanthropological localities in Africa. In addition to fossil hominins, there is a diverse associated fauna. The Laetoli fauna is important because it serves as a key comparative reference for other Plio-Pleistocene sites in Africa, it samples several time periods that are generally poorly represented at other paleontological sites in East Africa, and it provides key insights into the faunal and floral diversity during the Pliocene. As a result of renewed fieldwork at Laetoli (1998–2005) more than 25,000 fossils have been collected, of which more than half are fossil mammals. Most of the fossils were recovered from the Upper Laetolil Beds (3.6–3.85 Ma), but smaller samples came from the Lower Laetolil Beds (3.85–4.4 Ma) and Upper Ndolanya Beds (2.66 Ma). These include new specimens of Australopithecus afarensis from the Upper Laetolil Beds and the first finds of fossil hominins from the Upper Ndolanya Beds, attributable to Paranthropus aethiopicus. Inferences about the paleoecology at Laetoli are important for understanding the possible range of hominin habitat preferences and ecological change in East Africa during the Pliocene. The evidence from a wide range of analyses indicates that a mosaic of closed woodland, open woodland, shrubland and grassland dominated the paleoecology of the Upper Laetolil Beds. The region would have been dry for most of the year, except for the possible occurrence of permanent springs along the margin of the Eyasi Plateau and ephemeral pools and rivers during the rainy season. The paleoecological reconstruction of the Upper Ndolanya Beds is more problematic because of conflicting lines of evidence, but it is very likely that conditions were drier than in the Upper Laetolil Beds with a greater proportion of grassland, but that closed and open woodlands were still a major part of the ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andrews, P. J. (1989). Palaeoecology of Laetoli. Journal of Human Evolution, 18, 173–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, P. (2006). Taphonomic effects of faunal impoverishment and faunal mixing. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 241, 572–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, P., & Bamford, M. (2008). Past and present ecology of Laetoli, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution, 54, 78–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, P. J., & Humphrey, L. (1999). African Miocene environments and the transition to early hominines. In T. Bromage & F. Schrenk (Eds.), African biogeography climate change and human evolution (pp. 282–315). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, P., Bamford, M., Njau, E.-F., & Leliyo, G. (2011). The ecology and biogeography of the Endulen-Laetoli area in northern Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 167–200). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armour-Chelu, M., & Bernor, R. L. (2011). Equidae. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 295–326). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamford, M. (2011a). Fossil leaves, fruits and seeds. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 235–252). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamford, M. (2011b). Fossil woods. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 217–233). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, L. C. (2011). Suidae. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 327–337). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, L. C., Plummer, T. W., Hertel, F., & Kovarovic, K. (2011). Paleoenvironments of Laetoli, Tanzania as determined by antelope habitat preferences. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 355–366). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerling, T. E. (1992). Development of grasslands and savannas in East Africa during the Neogene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 97, 241–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deino, A. (2011). 40Ar/39Ar dating of Laetoli, Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 77–97). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denys, C. (2011). Rodents. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 15–53). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ditchfield, P., & Harrison, T. (2011). Sedimentology, lithostratigraphy and depositional history of the Laetoli area. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 47–76). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentry, A. W. (2011). Bovidae. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 363–465). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. M. (1987). Summary. In M. D. Leakey & J. M. Harris (Eds.), Laetoli: A Pliocene site in northern Tanzania (pp. 524–531). Oxford: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2005). Fossil bird eggs from Laetoli, Tanzania: Their taxonomic and paleoecological implications. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 41, 289–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (Ed.). (2011a). Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2011b). Hominins from the Upper Laetolil and Upper Ndolanya Beds, Laetoli. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 141–188). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2011c). Cercopithecids (Cercopithecidae, Primates). In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 83–139). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2011d). Galagidae (Lorisoidea, Primates). In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 75–81). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2011e). Laetoli revisited: Renewed paleontological and geological investigations at localities on the Eyasi Plateau in northern Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 1–15). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. (2011f). Coprolites: Taphonomic and paleoecological implications. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 279–292). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T., & Kweka, A. (2011). Paleontological localities on the Eyasi Plateau, including Laetoli. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 17–45). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T., & Msuya, C. P. (2005). Fossil struthionid eggshells from Laetoli, Tanzania: Their taxonomic and biostratigraphic significance. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 41, 303–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay, R. L. (1987). Geology of the Laetoli area. In M. D. Leakey & J. M. Harris (Eds.), Laetoli: A Pliocene site in northern Tanzania (pp. 23–47). Oxford: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernesniemi, E., Giaourtsakis, I. X., Evans, A. R., & Fortelius, M. (2011). Rhinocerotidae. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 275–293). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, T. M. (2011). Feeding ecology and niche partitioning of the Laetoli ungulate faunas. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 329–354). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African mammals. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, J. (2011). Stable isotopic analyses of Laetoli fossil herbivores. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 293–328). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, J., & Harrison, T. (2007). Isotopic dietary reconstructions of Pliocene herbivores at Laetoli: Implications for early hominin paleoecology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 243, 272–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitching, I. J., & Sadler, S. (2011). Lepidoptera, Insecta. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 549–554). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovarovic, K. (2004). Bovids as palaeoenvironmental indicators. An ecomorphological analysis of bovid postcranial remains from Laetoli, Tanzania. Ph.D. dissertation, University of London, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovarovic, K., & Andrews, P. (2007). Bovid postcranial ecomorphological survey of the Laetoli paleoenvironment. Journal of Human Evolution, 52, 663–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovarovic, K., & Andrews, P. (2011). Environmental change within the Laetoli fossiliferous sequence: Vegetation catenas and bovid ecomorphology. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 367–380). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovarovic, K., Andrews, P., & Aiello, L. (2002). An ecological diversity analysis of the Upper Ndolanya Beds, Laetoli, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution, 43, 395–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krell, F.-T., & Schawaller, W. (2011). Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera). In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 535–548). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leakey, M. D., & Harris, J. M. (Eds.). (1987). Laetoli: A Pliocene site in northern Tanzania. Oxford: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louchart, A. (2011). Aves. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 505–533). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manega, P. (1993). Geochronology, geochemistry and isotopic study of the Plio-Pleistocene hominid sites and the Ngorongora volcanic highlands in northern Tanzania. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musiba, C. M. (1999). Laetoli Pliocene paleoecology: A reanalysis via morphological and behavioral approaches. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musiba, V., Magori, C., Stoller, M., Stein, T., Branting, S., & Vogt, M. (2007). Taphonomy and paleoecological context of the Upper Laetolil Beds (Localities 8 and 9), Laetoli in northern Tanzania. In R. Bobe, Z. Alemseged, & A. K. Behrensmeyer (Eds.), Hominin environments in the East African Pliocene: An assessment of the faunal evidence (pp. 257–278). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ndessokia, P. N. S. (1990). The mammalian fauna and archaeology of the Ndolanya and Olpiro Beds, Laetoli, Tanzania. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, C. R., Blumenschine, R. J., Hay, R. L., Livingstone, D. A., Marean, C. W., Harrison, T., Armour-Chelu, M., Andrews, P., Bernor, R. L., Bonnefille, R., & Werdelin, L. (2008). Paleoecology of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. In A. R. E. Sinclair, C. Packer, S. A. R. Mduma, & J. M. Fryxell (Eds.), Serengeti III: Human impacts on ecosystem dynamics (pp. 47–94). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rage, J. C., & Bailon, S. (2011). Amphibia and Squamata. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 467–478). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D. (2011). Serengeti micromammal communities and the paleoecology of Laetoli, Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 253–263). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D., & Denys, C. (2011). The taphonomy and paleoenvironmental implications of the Laetoli micromammals. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 265–278). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, C. (2011). Giraffidae. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 339–362). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossouw, L., & Scott, L. (2011). Phytoliths and pollen, the microscopic plant remains in Pliocene volcanic sediments around Laetoli, Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 201–215). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, W. L. (2011). Proboscidea. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 189–232). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, D. (2005). The paleoecology of Laetoli, Tanzania: Evidence from the mammalian fauna of the Upper Laetolil Beds. Ph.D. dissertation, New York University, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, D. F. (2011). Large mammal evidence for the paleoenvironment of the Upper Laetolil and Upper Ndolanya Beds of Laetoli, Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Geology, geochronology, paleoecology and paleoenvironment, Vol. 1, pp. 381–392). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, D. F., & Harrison, T. (2007). The paleoecology of the Upper Laetolil Beds at Laetoli: A reconsideration of the large mammal evidence. In R. Bobe, Z. Alemseged, & A. K. Behrensmeyer (Eds.), Hominin environments in the East African Pliocene: An assessment of the faunal evidence (pp. 279–313). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Su, D. F., & Harrison, T. (2008). Ecological implications of the relative rarity of fossil hominins at Laetoli. Journal of Human Evolution, 55, 672–681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tattersfield, P. (2011). Gastropoda. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 567–587). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werdelin, L., & Dehghani, R. (2011). Carnivora. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 189–232). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler, A., & Tomida, Y. (2011). The lower third premolar of Serengetilagus praecapensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha: Leporidae) from Laetoli, Tanzania. In T. Harrison (Ed.), Paleontology and geology of Laetoli: Human evolution in context (Fossil hominins and the associated fauna, Vol. 2, pp. 55–66). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to all of the dedicated and resourceful team members who participated in the expeditions to Laetoli that contributed to the recovery of the material discussed and analyzed here. This volume and its companion would not have been possible without them. I would especially like to single out the following individuals who were critical to the success of the field project: Amandus Kweka, Michael L. Mbago, Charles P. Msuya, Simon Odunga, Al Deino, Carl Swisher, Peter Ditchfield, Godwin Mollel, Lindsay McHenry, Craig Feibel, Moses Lilombero, Simon Mataro, Denise Su, Peter Andrews, Terri Harrison and Bill Sanders. I thank all of the authors for their excellent contributions to this volume. For those who got their chapters in on time I am especially grateful; to those who were late with their submission, I hope that I am forgiven for the persistent nagging. To the senior physical anthropologist that accused me of doing stamp collecting rather than science, I will let the content of this volume speak for itself. I thank the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and the Unit of Antiquities in Dar es Salaam for permission to conduct research in Tanzania. Special thanks go to Paul Msemwa (Director), Amandus Kweka and all of the curators and staff at the National Museum of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam for their support and assistance. Fieldwork at Laetoli was supported by grants from the National Geographic Society, the Leakey Foundation, and the National Science Foundation (Grants BCS-0216683 and BCS-0309513). This chapter is dedicated to the memory of the late Norbert Kayombo (former Director General of the National Museums of Tanzania) for his unwavering support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Study of Human Origins Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Terry Harrison

Authors
  1. Terry Harrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Terry Harrison .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Study of Human Origins Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Terry Harrison

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Harrison, T. (2011). Introduction: The Laetoli Hominins and Associated Fauna. In: Harrison, T. (eds) Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9962-4_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation