no. 29 Winter/Spring 2014 AnthroQ The Newsletter of The Leakeyuest Foundation Historic Paleo Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio by Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie Curator/Head, Physical Anthropology Cleveland Museum of Natural History Leakey Foundation Grantee n September, The Leakey Foundation’s Board of Trustees and staff members wereI in Cleveland, Ohio, on a mission to promote public education on human origins. The Foundation, in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University; the Cleveland Museum of Natural History; The Institute for the Science of Origins; and National Public Radio affiliate Ideastream, organized the public symposium “On the Trail of Lucy: A Collaborative Exploration of Australopithecus.” The public symposium brought together (L TO R) Drs. Zeray Alemseged, Carol Ward and Fred Spoor at the symposium. 28 prominent paleoanthropologists from Photo: Brian Bull/Ideastream Africa, Europe, and the United States. fleshed-out reconstruction of Lucy as its Lucy and her relatives. Dr. Jeremy DeSilva’s Most of these scientists are multiple-time centerpiece. The symposium was divided lecture on the locomotor adaptations of Leakey Foundation grantees. The sympo- into three lecture sessions and one panel early Australopithecus was followed by the sium attracted more than 450 attendees discussion. Dr. Terry Harrison, a member most public-friendly lecture, by Dr. Bruce across all ages and educational backgrounds. of The Leakey Foundation’s Scientific Latimer, on the perils of bipedality. This The symposium was opened with a keynote Executive Committee, opened the morning talk left the audience with a tantalizing lecture by Dr. Bernard Wood on September program with his lecture on the earliest question: “Why did we become bipedal?” 19, “Relatives and Ancestors” at the Stro- human ancestors preceding Lucy’s genus More questions were raised during the sacker Auditorium of Case Western Reserve Australopithecus. This was followed by discussion that I moderated, and most of University. The public symposium followed Drs. William H. Kimbel and Carol Ward’s these questions were related to understand- the next day at the Cleveland Museum of lectures on “What was Australopithecus?” ing the selective advantages for the evolution Natural History, an institution with a long The audience found these lectures informa- of bipedality in our lineage. history on research in human origins and tive and they asked many questions during evolution. the discussion session, which was moderated The last session of the morning was by Dr. Zeray Alemseged. “Through the Eyes of Australopithecus.” The opening of the symposium coincided Drs. Kaye Reed and Thure Cerling talked with the unveiling of the museum’s new The second session, Australopithecus“ : how about ancient trees and landscapes and human origins gallery portraying a new it moved,” addressed the bipedal anatomy of the chemistry of Australopithecus food, [continued on page 8] The mission of The Leakey Foundation is to increase INSIDE scientific knowledge, The Gordon Getty Awarded Grants: Dr. Lordkipanidze education, and public Grant Legacy the Fall 2013 On Dmanisi, Being understanding of human Begins Cycle a Leakey Grantee origins, evolution, behavior, page 3 pages 4 & 5 page 10 and survival. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gordon P. Getty Chairman Dear Friends of The Leakey Foundation, Donald E. Dana President Hernan Buchi The word legacy means many things to many As we look to this Nina L. Carroll people. To some, it rouses thoughts of a dusty new year, so full Alice Corning Carolyn P. Farris shelf of books, written by people whose names of possibilities, J. Michael Gallagher sound vaguely familiar. To others, including let’s also reflect Misty Gruber myself, legacy embodies something powerful on the past. To Austin Hills and important. remember the re- C. Paul Johnson searchers who’ve Mark Jordan Matthew Kaser Many of today’s leaders in human origins left a legacy of Julie M. LaNasa research had the opportunity to meet Louis incredible dis- Dixon Long and Mary Leakey. Some sat in crowded univer- covery, to think Diana McSherry sity auditoriums as students, their inspiration about those who G. Robert Muehlhauser coming from the stories amplified through the work so tirelessly Don Dana Photo: J. Harris Jeanne Newman Mark Nickel speakers. Other researchers had the opportu- today to make William P. Richards, Jr. nity to work in the field beside these pioneers, new discoveries, and to acknowledge those Camilla Smith finding and studying fossils and stone tools, individuals whose patronage make those Joy Sterling and even sharing a whiskey and cigar. For discoveries possible. Naoma Tate these researchers, inspiration came through a Cole Thomson physical connection that, for many of them, To those who have shaped and defined the William M. Wirthlin, Jr. changed their lives and helped shape a part of legacy of The Leakey Foundation, I thank you. their own legacy. SCIENTIFIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dr. Frank Brown For many scientists, legacy may represent the Co-Chairman knowledge they are leaving behind for future Dr. Richard Klein generations, not necessarily through citations Donald E. Dana Co-Chairman and impact factors, but rather through their President of The Leakey Foundation Dr. John Fleagle approaches, concepts and philosophies of Dr. Alexander Harcourt science. Dr. Terry Harrison Dr. Kristen Hawkes AnthroQuest Thank You Dr. Steven Kuhn In this issue of , you will learn Dr. Meave Leakey about some of the global, long-term field Dr. Daniel Lieberman studies we support; also events in Cleveland Dr. John Mitani we sponsored, bringing together 28 human Dr. Martin Muller origins scientists; and a special project Dr. Robert Seyfarth Dr. Joan Silk funding Dr. Leslea Hlusko’s curation of Mary Leakey’s Bed III/IV assemblages from Olduvai STAFF Gorge. These are the scientists who are shaping Sharal Camisa the legacy our children will come to know. Managing Director Beth Green And finally there is the legacy of those Communications Director people whose scientific curiosity helped H. Gregory establish the Foundation 46 years ago, and Program Associate whose commitment continues today with Meredith Johnson their generous contributions. In the donation Outreach Coordinator section of our website, you can view a list of Carole Travis-Henikoff recently made a generous donation in Paddy Moore the patrons who have provided the Founda- memory of her dear friend, Program Officer tion financial support on an annual basis for Dr. Garniss Curtis. Rachel Roberts over 25 years! Finance Manager The Gordon Getty Grant Legacy Begins Semaw is Senior Research Scientist at Centro Nacional de Investigación Sobre la Evolución Humana in Burgos, Spain. Since obtaining his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1997, he’s been Director of the Gona Paleoanthropological Research Project in the Afar region of Ethiopia. Photo: The Gona The Project Photo: Semaw’s research, with consistent sup- port from The Leakey Foundation, has produced a wealth of remarkable pale- ontological and archaeological discov- eries. These include 4.3–4.5 million Sileshi Semaw year old fossils of Ardipithecus ramidus; the oldest known stone tools, dating to 2.5– 2.6 million years; and a well-preserved pelvis of a female Homo erectus individual. Dr. Semaw’s current research project aim by Dr. Terry Harrison The Gordon Getty Grant will be awarded to continue excavations at archaeological sites in the Gona region, dating to 1.7–1.8 Professor & Chair, Anthropology Dept., each year to an investigator and project that Director, Center for the Study of Human are considered to be of exceptional merit. million years, which may provide impor- Origins, New York University As of receiving the news that he had been tant clues to understanding the nature of awarded the inaugural Gordon Getty Grant, the transition from the Oldowan to the he very first recipient of the Gordon Dr. Semaw stated, Acheulean lithic industries. His continued Getty Grant is Dr. Sileshi Semaw for excavations, with support from the Gordon “I have no words to express how happy hisT project titled: Continued excavations Getty Grant, will contribute crucial new I am to receive the Gordon Getty Grant. evidence towards a better understanding exploring the Oldowan–Acheulian transition The generous grants from The Leakey of the nature and timing of the transition at Gona, Ethiopia. This newly established Foundation have been the cornerstone to the early Acheulean, one of the most grant was created in 2013 to honor Mr. for the success of the Gona Project, important events that occurred during Getty’s 40 years with the Foundation and beginning with the first grant I received th the first 2 million years of human cultural to celebrate his 80 birthday. With this 15 years ago. The consistent financial development.h award, the Foundation can acknowledge support from the Foundation is much Mr. Getty’s leadership and contributions to appreciated–and now this prestigious If you’d like to make a gift to the human origins research, while honoring his and special research grant honoring Gordon Getty Grant Fund, visit special relationship to The Leakey Founda- Gordon–this is indeed an exceptional tion, for all time. leakeyfoundation.org/getty opportunity for me and my colleagues!” or see the donation form on page 11. The Gordon Getty Grant Fund Donors* (Donations made between August 15, 2013 and January 31, 2014) Dr. Irven DeVore Drs. Alexander Harcourt Mr. C. Paul Johnson Mr. & Mrs. G. Robert Mr. & Mrs. Cole Thomson & Kelly Stewart Muehlhauser Mrs. Joan Donner Ms. Julie M. LaNasa Mr. & Mrs. William Mr. & Mrs. Austin Hills Mr. & Mrs. Mark Nickel M. Wirthlin II Dr. Holly Dunsworth Dr. Daniel Lieberman Mrs. Betty Howell Mr. & Mrs. William P. Mrs. Diane Wilsey Dr. John G. Fleagle Dr. Linda Marchant Richards Drs. Rebecca Jabbour Mr. & Mrs. Frank Woods Mr. & Mrs. Michael Dr. Diana McSherry & Gary Richards Mr. & Mrs. Richard Walker * See issue no. 28 of Gallagher & Mr. Pat Poe AnthroQuest for donations made before August 2013.