Hi blog. Today was so cool! We started the day with a short lecture from David about the layers of rock that we would find at the Olduvai dig site. I learned that the LAS layer is fossil rich and that as it’s uncovered, it erodes downwards so that fossils may be exposed. I remember taking a course in paleobiology where the impermanence of fossils was discussed. They mentioned how fossils become exposed for a brief period of time on the surface of the earth before being too damaged.
After the lecture, we went to an Olduvai site and looked for fossilized teeth! I had a hard time finding teeth in the fossil bed I was assigned to, so I ended up picking up a bunch of random fossils that were not teeth and discussing them with Dr. Prendergast. She identified a small carnivore, a tortoise, and a wildebeest among some of the fossils I had. The hill we were fossil hunting on was extremely slippery, and I kept losing my footing and sliding down. I didn’t realize how dirty my clothes would get from excavation! I ended the excavation with two teeth and a mandible, but I’m not experienced enough to have been able to identify the type of roots present in the mandible.
^The Olduvai site that we collected fossilized teeth from.
After we collected fossilized teeth, we attempted to identify the family to which each of the teeth belonged. I had only two teeth, so it didn’t take long for me to guess both of their identities. I figured one was a wildebeest tooth and the other was from a member of antelopini. I don’t know for sure whether that’s correct, but I guess we’ll see tomorrow!
That evening, we visited the Mary Leakey museum. I didn’t know who the Leakeys were before this visit, so I’m glad we got to see their camp and get a guided tour! Their dorm buildings were so small and definitely not snake-proof. The fossil room was cool not only because of the fossils, but because Dr. Prendergast had helped organize it almost two decades ago. I’m glad we had a Leakey expert on our team that day!
After the Leakey museum visit, we found out that our Kenya eTAs were no longer valid for entry into Kenya, so in order to be allowed to leave Tanzania, we scrambled to apply for new visas.
^Carina and I trying (and nearly failing) to connect to the internet while at the Olduvai Gorge museum so that we could apply for new Kenya eTAs so that we would be allowed to leave the country and go home.
^Carina accidentally haggled for some beaded bracelets from the Maasai ladies that sold merch at the campsite.
I hope we get home!
Kacey
