The behavioural ecology of early Pleistocene hominids in the Koobi Fora region, East Turkana basin, northern Kenya

The geological context and distribution of stone artifacts and/or hominid modified bone across ancient landscapes provide means for reconstructing early hominid foraging and ranging behaviour. We discuss the distribution of archaeological sites from previous research, along with two new bone modification sites east of Lake Turkana, in the Koobi Fora region of northern Kenya. The sites are in Okote Member deposits (1.64-1.39 mya) in the Koobi Fora Formation. These sites are FwJj 14 in Collecting Area IA at Ileret and GaJi 14 in Area 103 at the Koobi Fora Ridge. These sites are separated by about 40 km. It is possible that the new sites were located in areas that were being newly exploited by hominids. Hominids may have been foraging not only for food, but also for critical lithic resources. Zones of exploitation within the ancient landscape must have included areas where prospecting for lithic resources could take place. This evidence therefore implies complex foraging for dispersed resources.