CLEVELAND, OH—October 17, 2024—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has been awarded a $307K collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will support human origins research aimed at understanding the significance of tool technology in the human lineage. Dr. Emma Finestone, the Museum’s Associate Curator and Robert J. and Linnet E. Fritz Endowed Chair of Human Origins, and Dr. Thomas Plummer from the City University of New York Queens College are leading the grant-funded research.
The NSF’s Archaeology Program Senior Research Award provides funding through August 2028 to support Dr. Finestone, Dr. Plummer, and their team. The multidisciplinary project aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of hominin behavior at the dawn of stone tool technology. The project will take place at an Early Stone Age locality called Nyayanga, situated on the Homa Peninsula in western Kenya. Nyayanga is among the oldest archaeological localities known in the world, and therefore presents a unique opportunity to investigate the origins of tool technology.
“People all around the world rely on tools and technology for survival. This is a fundamental aspect of what makes us human,” says Dr. Finestone. “However, the origins of this reliance on tool technology are not fully understood. Our research aims to explore the emergence of technology by addressing key questions: What were early tools used for? Who made them? And in what ecological contexts did they arise?”
The emergence of the earliest persistent tool industry (termed the “Oldowan”) and the hominin genera Homo and Paranthropus nearly 3 million years ago marked a significant milestone in human evolution. The ability to make and use stone tools may have represented an adaptive breakthrough, enabling early toolmakers to exploit a wider range of foods resources and expand into diverse environments. However, the limited number of Stone Age localities more than 2 million years old makes it difficult for scientists to assess the degree of technological, behavioral, and ecological variability in the early archaeological record. Many aspects surrounding the origin of lithic technology remain unknown, including the taxonomic identity of early toolmakers, what tools were used for, and how far back in time Oldowan technology extends.
Nyayanga has yielded early Oldowan tools alongside massive molars belonging to the human species’ evolutionary cousin Paranthropus that date between approximately 3 and 2.6 million years ago. The discovery of these teeth from the muscular-jawed Paranthropus, raises the question of whether this lineage may have been the architect of the earliest Oldowan stone tools, rather than our own ancestors in the Homo genus. Evidence from Nyayanga also suggests that early human relatives used some of the oldest stone tools to butcher hippos and pound plant material. Nyayanga provides a snapshot of the conditions surrounding some of the earliest tools ever discovered, making it a key location for future investigations.
“The Nyayanga sites were formed during a critical time in human evolution. During this period, we have early stone tools and multiple lineages of hominins who may have been making and using tools alongside one another,” says Dr. Finestone. “I am very excited to continue this work and see what else Nyayanga has in store.”
The team led by Dr. Finestone and Dr. Plummer aims to expand and refine the geological, paleontological, archaeological, and human fossil records at Nyayanga. The team will work to constrain the estimated age of sites, expand the sample of fossils and stone tools, and undertake additional analyses to shed light on hominin behavior during the early Oldowan. The project involves excavating additional sites over a broader area, gathering data to reconstruct the past environment, surveying neighboring localities, and investigating the fossilized remains of human relatives found on the Homa Peninsula.
This project aims to foster international collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches, and exchange knowledge of cutting-edge methodologies across institutions from the USA, Kenya, Great Britain, Canada, Italy, and Australia. It will contribute to the education and training of graduate students and undergraduate interns from both the USA and Kenya.
“This grant allows the Museum to continue our renowned legacy in groundbreaking anthropological research,” says Sonia Winner, the Museum’s President & CEO. “In addition, Dr. Finestone’s research advances the Museum’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and sharing scientific knowledge worldwide.”
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Transformation Project
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million transformation project is an unprecedented reinvention that will align the Museum’s architecture with its mission of instilling a passion for nature and science in all learners. The Transforming the World of Discovery campaign has raised more than $140 million for this project, which will expand the Museum's building to more than 375,000 square feet and its outdoor visitor areas to more than 2 acres. The transformation project aims to broaden community access and help all stakeholders understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives. The latest milestone in this project was the opening in October 2023 of a welcoming new Visitor Hall, a free community space that showcases eight of the Museum’s most iconic objects and specimens. This dramatic, 14,650-square-foot gallery features ceilings that soar to 21 feet and stunning new exhibits placed along the Douglas McCreery and Dr. Laurie McCreery Timeline of the Earth, which marks key events in the history of the Universe. Slated for completion in late 2024, the Museum’s transformation encompasses a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits. Pioneering a new model for natural history museums, the redesigned exhibits will highlight the Museum’s world-class assets while reflecting its role as a trusted community resource. The Museum appreciates the generous support from community members, corporations, foundations, and government grants that has helped to make this transformation a reality.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
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