Lower to Mid-Pliocene pollen data from East African hominid sites, a review

Pollen data from the Lower to Mid-Pliocene (4.2–2.95 Ma) of East Africa's hominid sites reveals significant insights into past vegetation, environment, and climate during a critical period for human evolution. The study, which includes 39 pollen samples from five key sites spanning Ethiopia's Lower Awash Valley to northern Kenya, provides refined chronological precision and contextualizes these findings within the region's renowned sedimentary sequences. These sequences are notable for their rich fossil hominin remains and diverse mammalian fauna, offering a window into the environmental conditions that shaped early human ancestors. The analysis highlights shifts in vegetation and climatic parameters, contributing to our understanding of the ecological backdrop of East Africa during this pivotal era.

Bonnefille, R., & Bourel, B. (2021). Lower to Mid-Pliocene pollen data from East African hominid sites, a review. Quaternary Vegetation Dynamics – the African Pollen Database, 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003162766-10