Location: Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Season Dates: July 3, 2013 - August 7, 2013
Session Dates: Single session
Application Deadline: July 1, 2013

Website: http://www.ifrglobal.org/programs/current/tanzania-olduvai

Program Type
Field school

Affiliation: Institute for Field Research, University of London, Connecticut College

Project Director: Dr. Ignacio de la Torre, University College London, Dr. Michael Pante, University College London

Project Description

Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world.  It was the first place where traces of an early stone tool culture were discovered, and also the site where the transition from the Oldowan (a simple core-and-flake technology) to the Acheulean (defined by the appearance of handaxes) was first documented. Despite the relevance of Olduvai to the understanding of the origins of the Acheulean, there have been few investigations of this topic. In 2008 the Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project (OGAP) was started to renew investigations on the origins of the Acheulean in Olduvai.

Period(s) of Occupation: Paleolithic

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Entire duration of field school

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: No prior experience required

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will stay in a hotel when in Arusha. Students will stay in their own tents within a gated camp while in the field. Each student will receive a mattress for his or her tent. The camp is without running water, but water is provided every other day for showers. There are also basic outhouse facilities within the camp. Electricity is available in the laboratories.
Students will receive three communal meals per day Monday through Sunday. Our staff can accommodate vegetarian diets. 
All meals will be communal events and will provide plenty of nutritious but basic food in the tradition of local cousin. Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, etc.) are difficult to maintain in this remote location. Vegetarian may attend but will find options fairly limited.  
Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have special dietary needs, as well as any medical or physical conditions. We will advise you accordingly. The project is used to catering for vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance etc.

Academic Credit
Name of institution offering credit: Connecticut College
Number of credits offered: 8 semester credit units
Tuition: $6,950

Contact Information
Ran Boytner
1855 Industrial Street Unit 106
Los Angeles, CA 90021
info@IFRglobal.org

Recommended Bibliography

Benito-Calvo A, Torre, I. de la. 2011.  "Analysis of orientations patterns in Olduvai Bed I assemblages using GIS techniques:  Implications for site formation processes."  Journal of Human Evolution 61:50-60.

Pante MC, Blumenschine RJ, Capaldo SD., Scott RS. 2012. "Validation of bone surface modification models for inferring fossil hominin and carnivore feeding interactions, with reapplication to FLK 22, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania."  Journal of Human Evolution, 63(2):395-407.

Torre, I de la, McHenry, LJ, Njau, JK., Pante, MC. 2012.  "The Origins of the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania): A New Paleoanthropological Project in East Africa."  Archaeology International 15:69-78.

Torre I de la, Mora R. 2005. "Unmodified lithic material at Olduvai Bed I:  Manuports or Ecofacts?"  Journal of Archaeological Science, 32(2):273-285.