Previous post about
Olduvai Gorge introduced the
Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project excavations.
This post will be from the perspective of the students that participated this summer- Anna, Jan and Abby.
It feels crazy to say that now already 3 months have passed since we
returned from what was an amazing and unforgettable experience.
As
explained before, Olduvai Gorge is a very important site for the
discovery of early hominin activity. It was first excavated by Mary and
Louis Leakey in 1935 and excavations continue there today. Echos of Mary
and Louis Leakey's presence still remain at the camp where we were
living.
 |
| The Leakey's home, now the camp's dining hall- or colouring area during the mid-day break! (Photo by Emily Orlikoff) |
 |
| The Laetoli Lab- our conservation lab for the season |
 |
| Our friend Merve gets lovingly dressed up by the Maasai for the Zinj Day celebrations | |
|
Every
year the day that Mary found the
Zinjanthropus boisei skull (also known as
Paranthropus boisei) is
celebrated. We were lucky enough to be part of the celebrations this
year. Throughout the night everyone expressed their thankfulness for the
collaboration that has taken place between the local Maasai and the
visiting researchers.
This
year the main sites excavated were based on the meticulous notes of Mary Leakey. They were
incredibly rich archaeologically. Over 5,000 artefacts were excavated
this season and over 550 of those passed through the conservation lab.
GTCT
(Greatest Tanzanian Conservation Team) treated more objects then ever
before. Comprised of myself, Anna, Jan and Eli.
We were led by Dr. Renata Peters to have a highly successful season
conserving fossilized bones and stone tools.
The fossilized bones came into the lab requiring joining, consolidation, fills and surface
cleaning. The stone tools were often delaminating, in addition to
needing joining and surface cleaning.
 |
| Anna consults with Renata about a treatment. |
We
could not have had such a successful season without help from the
Tanzanian excavators and field school students who quickly became part of the GTCT.
 |
| One of our dedicated students, Rukia, working on a difficult object |
 |
| Jan teaching another of our dedicated students, Lucie |
When
reminiscing about our time in Olduvai to others we have
gotten some interesting reactions. Daily life at the camp would not be
considered easy by most. We slept in tents, had no running water (which
meant showering from a bag and brushing your teeth in a bush) and only
limited generator-powered electricity. We would start work daily at
7:45am and would finish around 6:30pm- when there was no more light to
work by. However, we would also watch the sunrise over the gorge every
morning, see giraffes running behind the camp in the evening and fall
asleep to the sound of hyenas. We were surrounded by loving and caring
people with whom we formed friendships that will last a lifetime.
Olduvai Gorge is a unique and wondrous place. I think I speak for all
three of us when I say we feel lucky to have been part of this
experience.
 |
| Conservation Tent City- our home away from home. We were all jealous of Anna's large tent. Can you guess which one it is? (Photo by Jan D. Cutajar) |
This trip could not have been possible without help
from our friends and family who donated to our crowd fundraising
campaign, the
Zibby Garnett Travel Fellowship and OGAP. Thank you
so much!
