Hello World,
I felt like a true scientist today! Along with 3 other students, a graduate student, and Dr. Charles, we ventured out beyond the Olduvai research camp by 20 minutes around Shifting Sands to get to a watering hole. Dr. Charles and his graduate student have been collecting data at two sites in this area for about 10 years as a part of a long term study. The study is looking at the density of bones left behind every year in relation to natural magnets such as trees and water. The patterns of bones could give them insight into ancient savanna ecosystems which involve our human ancestors.
We went out with a surveying tripod and some orange flags to map out 8 small (50ft x 30ft) blocks. In order to do this we had a rod with a glass prism at the top that sent a laser back to the main tripod. The tripod was then able to map out the plots in the data base and confirm that we had laid the plots in the right place. The 6 of us lined up shoulder to shoulder and spread out two arm links apart from one another. We then began to sweep that area for any kind of bone. Each time we found a bone we put an orange flag by it.
After flagging all of the bones across 8 blocks, we went back to bag them up and put them into the online database. In the tripod’s system, they can mark the exact coordinates of each bone, the orientation of the bone and the specimen number. The orientation of the bone is cool to know because you can tell if the bone has been moved based on which side of the bone is more weathered versus which side is facing up. We collected about 30 bones over the 8 blocks.
Thank you for tuning in!
