Landscapes of human evolution: models and methods of tectonic geomorphology and the reconstruction of hominin landscapes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Landscapes of human evolution

T2 - models and methods of tectonic geomorphology and the reconstruction of hominin landscapes

AU - Bailey, G.N.

AU - Reynolds, Sally

AU - King, G.C.P.

N1 - 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Journal of Human Evolution . Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

PY - 2011/5

Y1 - 2011/5

N2 - This paper examines the relationship between complex and tectonically active landscapes and patterns of human evolution. We show how active tectonics can produce dynamic landscapes with geomorphological and topographic features that may be critical to long-term patterns of hominin land use but that are not typically addressed in landscape reconstructions based on existing geological and paleoenvironmental principles. We describe methods of representing topography at a range of scales using measures of roughness based on digital elevation data, and combine the resulting maps with satellite imagery and ground observations to reconstruct features of the wider landscape as they existed at the time of hominin occupation and activity. We apply these methods to sites in South Africa, where relatively stable topography facilitates reconstruction, and demonstrate the presence of previously unrecognized tectonic effects and their implications for the interpretation of hominin habitats and land use. In parts of the East African Rift, reconstruction is more difficult because of dramatic changes since the time of hominin occupation, while fossils are often found in places where activity has now almost ceased. However, we show that original, dynamic landscape features can be assessed by analogy with parts of the Rift that are currently active and indicate how this approach can complement other sources of information to add new insights and pose new questions for future investigation of hominin land use and habitats.

AB - This paper examines the relationship between complex and tectonically active landscapes and patterns of human evolution. We show how active tectonics can produce dynamic landscapes with geomorphological and topographic features that may be critical to long-term patterns of hominin land use but that are not typically addressed in landscape reconstructions based on existing geological and paleoenvironmental principles. We describe methods of representing topography at a range of scales using measures of roughness based on digital elevation data, and combine the resulting maps with satellite imagery and ground observations to reconstruct features of the wider landscape as they existed at the time of hominin occupation and activity. We apply these methods to sites in South Africa, where relatively stable topography facilitates reconstruction, and demonstrate the presence of previously unrecognized tectonic effects and their implications for the interpretation of hominin habitats and land use. In parts of the East African Rift, reconstruction is more difficult because of dramatic changes since the time of hominin occupation, while fossils are often found in places where activity has now almost ceased. However, we show that original, dynamic landscape features can be assessed by analogy with parts of the Rift that are currently active and indicate how this approach can complement other sources of information to add new insights and pose new questions for future investigation of hominin land use and habitats.

KW - East African Rift

KW - Hominin landscapes

KW - Roughness

KW - Satellite imagery

KW - South Africa

KW - Tectonics

KW - Topographic complexity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79751532072&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.01.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.01.004

M3 - Article

SN - 0047-2484

VL - 60

SP - 257

EP - 280

JO - Journal of Human Evolution

JF - Journal of Human Evolution

IS - 3

ER -