The Plio-Pleistocene sediments of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, are well known for their records of both hominid evolution and the paleoenvironments where these early hominids lived. This paper investigates the paleohabitat reconstructions of Bed I and Lower Bed II of Olduvai and provides an analysis using bovid tribes as habitat indicators. The habitat inferences based upon the bovids are compared with paleoenvironmental reconstructions from studies of the micromammals, pollen profiles, isotope geochemistry, and geology. These various habitat indicators are shown to corroborate each other closely with regard to both the kind of habitat present and the timing of inferred habitat change. The general agreement on habitat types appears to present especially strong support for the paleoecological reconstructions of Bed I and Lower Bed II. Paleohabitats ranged from closed woodland or forest to a mixture of open woodland and grassland to open grassland. The pattern of paleohabitats through time supports the idea of a climatic trend towards greater aridity, but with intermittent shifts to more humid conditions. The Plio-Pleistocene climatic history of the Olduvai basin may prove useful in understanding the evolution of East Africa climates.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.