http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
the race to discover human ancestors in Ethiopia's Afar Depression
1 online resource (xv, 389 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates) : illustrations, maps
"In the fall of 1971, Jon Kalb, a young geologist from Texas, was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to explore Ethiopia's forbidding Afar Depression, long considered a kind of hell on earth." "Although it was geology that initially drew Kalb to the region, it was astounding archeological finds that became the reason to stay. The Afar yielded Lucy, the First Family, Bodo Man, the Aramis Skeleton, the Buri Skull, and some of the oldest and most extensive stone tool discoveries ever made." "Kalb recounts not just the turf battles of scientists but the armed conflict that overthrew Emperor Haile Sellassie in 1974, and the subsequent revolution that steered Ethiopia toward famine, tribal warfare, invasion, and chaos."--Jacket.
Part I: geological formation of the Afar, earth sciences revolution and its focus on the Afar, the authors interest in the region -- Part II: the author's first trip to the Afar, geographical setting and formation of team to explore, further explorations and Lucy -- Part III: early geologists exploration, first rivalries, famine, and life of the Afar nomads -- Part IV: political upheaval, treasure map to fossils, further political upheaval and effect on research, discovery of Bodo Skull -- Part V: Somali invasion, conflicts between research and politics, colonization of Ethiopia -- Epilogue: recent discoveries, return to Ethiopia, the next generation of explorers.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 348-374) and index.