6 Million Years of Savanna Accompanied Ape and Human Evolution
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - 13:00
in Paleontology & Archaeology
University of Utah scientists used chemical isotopes in ancient soil to measure prehistoric tree cover - in effect, shade - and found that grassy, tree-dotted savannas prevailed at most East African sites where human ancestors and their ape relatives evolved during the past 6 million years.