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Fossils from Mille-Logya, Afar, Ethiopia, elucidate the link between Pliocene environmental changes and Homo origins

Author

Listed:
  • Zeresenay Alemseged

    (University of Chicago)

  • Jonathan G. Wynn

    (National Science Foundation)

  • Denis Geraads

    (MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP 38)

  • Denne Reed

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • W. Andrew Barr

    (The George Washington University)

  • René Bobe

    (University of Oxford
    Gorongosa National Park
    Universidade do Algarve)

  • Shannon P. McPherron

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Alan Deino

    (Berkeley Geochronology Center)

  • Mulugeta Alene

    (Addis Ababa University)

  • Mark J. Sier

    (Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3
    University of Oxford)

  • Diana Roman

    (Carnegie Institution for Science)

  • Joseph Mohan

    (University of Maine)

Abstract

Several hypotheses posit a link between the origin of Homo and climatic and environmental shifts between 3 and 2.5 Ma. Here we report on new results that shed light on the interplay between tectonics, basin migration and faunal change on the one hand and the fate of Australopithecus afarensis and the evolution of Homo on the other. Fieldwork at the new Mille-Logya site in the Afar, Ethiopia, dated to between 2.914 and 2.443 Ma, provides geological evidence for the northeast migration of the Hadar Basin, extending the record of this lacustrine basin to Mille-Logya. We have identified three new fossiliferous units, suggesting in situ faunal change within this interval. While the fauna in the older unit is comparable to that at Hadar and Dikika, the younger units contain species that indicate more open conditions along with remains of Homo. This suggests that Homo either emerged from Australopithecus during this interval or dispersed into the region as part of a fauna adapted to more open habitats.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeresenay Alemseged & Jonathan G. Wynn & Denis Geraads & Denne Reed & W. Andrew Barr & René Bobe & Shannon P. McPherron & Alan Deino & Mulugeta Alene & Mark J. Sier & Diana Roman & Joseph Mohan, 2020. "Fossils from Mille-Logya, Afar, Ethiopia, elucidate the link between Pliocene environmental changes and Homo origins," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16060-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16060-8
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