Getting the ‘dirt’ on human origins

By Amanda Ehlers
Mud from the bottom of a lake in Africa may reveal information about the ancestors of modern humans, according to a professor of earth science from Syracuse University who spoke to Rider students on April 25.

In the last Geologic, Environmental and Marine Sciences (GEMS) seminar of the year, Dr. Christopher Scholz explained the results of his work studying climate variations dating back to approximately 60,000 years ago, and their effect on the expansion of early human populations.
He discussed his discoveries from scientific drilling in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley.

“What we know about our direct ancestors is extremely fragmentary,” said Scholz.

Scholz spoke on behalf of the GeoPrisms program, which focuses on comparing and contrasting the ancient rift basins of North America with the active rifts developing in Africa. GeoPrisms also offers opportunities for students to engage in this research.

“The GeoPrisms program is a 10-year initiative that focuses on areas of research like plate boundary subduction zones and rift zones,” said Scholz.
Scholz has dedicated a majority of his professional career to researching in Africa at locations such as Lake Malawi. He focused his discussion on Tanzania and Kenya, specifically the drilling his team did in Lake Malawi, on the east side of Africa located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Dr. Reed Schwimmer, associate professor of geological and marine Sciences, said Scholz’s research was well-documented and interesting.

“Dr. Scholz showed how the evolution of human ancestors was not influenced simply by a changing climate, but more specifically on the variability and rate of climate change,” he said.
Setting out on a month-long journey the scientists were able to take multiple samples of mud from the sea floor. The mud was distributed and now resides in the Minneapolis National Core Repository.
“We do some non-invasive measurements on the samples to measure the density, the magnetic properties, and the sound propagating properties of the mud,” said Scholz.
These samples help Scholz by ultimatley providing information about changes in climate.
Such investigations have allowed scientists to learn more about human ancestry in Africa, where humans are believed to have originated.

“It was really informative and his experiences were so interesting,” said Larissa DeScala, a freshman elementary education and integrated science and math major.

research showing how the evolution of human ancestors was not influenced simply by a changing climate, but more specifically on the variability and rate of climate change.”
These samples help Scholz by ultimately provide information about changes in climate.
Such investigations have allowed scientists to learn more about human ancestry in Africa, where humans are believed to have originated.
“My primary focus has been to study the past climate in the tropics on the African continent which has resulted in important implications,” said Scholz.
Larissa DeScala, a freshman elementary education and integrated science and math major said Dr. Scholz’s presentation made her more interested in science.
“It was really informative and his experiences were so interesting,” she said.