Jackson Njau: Faculty: Directory: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Indiana University Bloomington

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Jackson Njau

Jackson Njau

Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Research Associate, The Stone Age Institute

Adjunct Professor, Anthropology

Affiliate Faculty, African Studies Program, Indiana University

jknjau@iu.edu
(812) 856-3170
GY 5052
Office Hours
M-F
By Appointment Only

Education

Ph.D., Rutgers University, 2006
M.A., Rutgers University, 2000
B.A., University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, 1992

Research interests

My research seeks to understand the relationship between paleoecology, paleoenvironments and hominin evolution. My research combines a broad range of paleoanthropological methods including zooarchaeology, vertebrate taphonomy, paleontology, geology, and the use of ecologically driven actualistic studies of predator-prey interactions from archaeological perspectives. Over the last fifteen years my research has focused on the role of crocodylian predation on hominin evolution at Olduvai Gorge site, which is perhaps the most famous of all archaeological sites in the world informing on human evolution. Currently, I am co-directing a scientific drilling research program that investigates the continental core records of Olduvai Gorge to understand the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental contexts of hominin evolution at high-resolution.

Research projects

Over the years I have established and collaborate in interdisciplinary research projects focusing on human evolution in Tanzania. They include;

Currently, I am co-directing the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP). This project seeks to understand the role of Earth’s dynamics to hominin evolution through scientific drilling and multiproxy analyses of core record. OGCP peer reviewed special issue publications.
Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project
Olduvai Vertebrate Paleontology Project (OVPP)
Olduvai Gorge Landscape Paleoanthropology Project (OLAPP).

Courses taught

EAS-E 104 Evolution of the Earth
COLL-X 101 Missing Links and Human Origins
EAS-E 227 Earth Climate and History
EAS-X377 Olduvai Gorge Summer Field School
GEOL-G490 Advanced Seminar, African landscapes paleoecology
GEOL-G 561 Paleoecology
GEOL-G 690 Advanced Seminar, Climate Change and Human Evolution in Africa

Graduate student projects

Silvia Ascari M.Sc. Isotopic Analyses of Fossil Bones and Teeth of Herbivores and Crocodiles from Upper Bed I-Upper Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.
Paul Farrugia Ph.D. Crocodylian Craniodental Ecomorphology and Ecological Niche Modeling: A New Approach for Reconstructing Hominin Paleoecology in the East African Rift System.
Danielle Peltier-Thompson Ph.D. Abiotic Influence on Paleoecology and its Implications on the Evolution of Hominin Morphology
Thomas LaBarge M.Sc.

Publications 2021

*Indicates student publication

Njau et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 561: Njau JK, Toth P, Schick K, Stanistreet I, McHenry LJ and Stollhofen H. (2021) The Olduvai Gorge Coring Project: Drilling high resolution palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental archives to constrain hominin evolution. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 561. DOI.
Ferland et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 562: Ferland TM, *Colcord DE, *Shilling AM, Brassell SC, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen, H, Njau JK, Schick KD, Toth N and Freeman KH (2021) Biased preservation of Pleistocene climate variability proxies at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 562. DOI
Torre et al. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 61: Torre LDS, Benito-Calvo A, Martín-Ramos C, McHenry LJ, Mora R, Njau JK, Pante M, Stanistreet IG and Stollhofen H (2021). New excavations in the MNK Skull site, and the last appearance of the Oldowan and Homo habilis at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 61. DOI
Stollhofen et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Stollhofen H, Stanistreet IG, Toth N, Schick KD, Rodríguez-Cintas A, Albert RM, *Farrugia P, Njau JK, Pante MC, Herrmann E, Ruck L, Bamford MK, Blumenschine RJ and Masao FT (2021) Olduvai's Oldest Oldowan. Journal of Human Evolution 150. DOI

Publications 2020

Njau et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: Njau JK, Herrmann EW, Ruck L, Pante M, *Farrugia P, Toth N, Schick K, Stollhofen H and Stanistreet IG (2020) Core stratigraphy constrains Bed IV archaeological record at HEB site, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 552. DOI
Parisi et al. Seismological Research Letters: Parisi L, Stanistreet IG, Njau JK, Schick K, Toth, N and Martin Mai P (2020) Seismological investigations in the Olduvai basin and Ngorongoro Volcanic Highlands (western flank of the North Tanzanian Divergence). Seismological Research Letters 91(6):3286–3303. DOI
McHenry et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 548: McHenry LJ, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Njau JK, Toth N and Schick K (2020) Tuff fingerprinting and correlations between OGCP cores and outcrops for Pre-Bed I and Bed I/II at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 548. DOI
McHenry et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 556: McHenry LJ, Kodikara GRL, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Njau JK, Schick K and Toth N (2020) Lake conditions and detrital sources of Paleolake Olduvai, Tanzania, reconstructed using X-ray Diffraction analysis of cores. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 556. DOI
Deino et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecololgy: Deino AL, Heil C, King J, McHenry LJ, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Njau JK, Mwankunda J, Schick KD and Toth N (2020) Chronostratigraphy and Age Modeling of Pleistocene Drill Cores from the Olduvai Basin, Tanzania (Olduvai Gorge Coring Project). Palaeogeog, Palaeoclim, Palaeoecol. DOI
Pante et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Pante M, Torre LDL, d’Errico F, Njau JK and Blumenschine RJ (2020) Bone tools from Beds II-IV, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and implications for the origins and evolution of bone technology. Journal of Human Evolution 148. DOI
Rodriguez-Cintas et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: Rodriguez-Cintas A, Albert RM, Bamford MK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Stone, JR, Rivera-Rondon C, Pronzaro R, Njau JK, Schick K and Toth N (2020) Palaeovegetation changes recorded in Palaeolake Olduvai OGCP Core 2A (2.09–2.12 Ma) Naibor Soit Formation Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 557. DOI
Shilling et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: *Shilling AS, *Colcord DE, Karty J, Hansen A, Freeman KH, Njau JK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Schick KD, Toth N and Brassell SC (2020) Biogeochemical evidence from OGCP Core 2A sediments for environmental changes preceding deposition of Tuff IB and climate transitions in Upper Bed I of the Olduvai Basin. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 555 DOI
Stanistreet et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 546: Stanistreet IG, Boyle JF, Stollhofen H, Deocampo D, Deino A, McHenry LJ, Toth N, Schick K and Njau JK (2020) Palaeosalinity and palaeoclimatic geochemical proxies (elements Ti, Mg, Al) vary with Milankovitch cyclicity (1.3 to 2.0 Ma), OGCP cores, Palaeolake Olduvai, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 546. DOI
Stanistreet et al. Paleogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 554: Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Deino A, McHenry L, Toth N, Schick K and Njau JK (2020) New Olduvai Basin stratigraphy and stratigraphic concepts revealed by OGCP cores into the Palaeolake Olduvai depocentre, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 554. DOI
Stanistreet et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 560: Stanistreet IG, Doyle C, Hughes T, Rushworth ER, Stollhofen H, Toth N, Schick K, and Njau JK (2020) Changing depocentre environments of Palaeolake Olduvai and carbonates as marker horizons for hiatuses and lake-level extremes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 560. DOI

Publications 2019-2017

Shilling et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: *Shilling AM, *Colcord DE, Karty J, Hansen A, Freeman KH, Njau JK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Schick KD, Toth N and Brassell SC (2019) Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP Core 2A that encompasses Tuff 1B (~1.848 Ma). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 532. DOI
Colcord et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: *Colcord DE, *Shilling A, Freeman KH, Njau JK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Schick K, Toth N and Brassell S (2019) Aquatic biomarkers record Pleistocene environmental changes at Paleolake Olduvai, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 524:250-261. DOI
Merritt et al. Journal of Archaeological Science: Merritt SR, Pante MC, Keevil TL, Njau JK and Blumenschine RJ (2019) Don’t cry over spilled ink: missing context prevents replication and creates the Rorschach effect in bone surface modification studies. Journal of Archaeological Science 102:71-79. DOI
Lu et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: Lu K, Hanafy S, Stanistreet IG, Njau JK, Schick K, Toth N, Stollhofen H, and Schuster G (2019) Seismic imaging of the Olduvai Basin, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 533 DOI
Alemseged et al. Nature Ecology and Evolution: Alemseged Z, Njau JK, Pobiner B and Ndiema E (2019) Connecting palaeoscientists in eastern Africa and the wider world. Nature Ecology and Evolution. DOI
Ascari et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: *Ascari S, Njau JK, Polly, PD, Sauer P and Peng Y (2018) Fossil herbivores and crocodiles as paleoclimatic indicators of environmental shifts from Bed I and Bed II times of the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 511:550-557. DOI
Stanistreet et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Njau JK, *Farrugia P, Masao FT, Albert RM, Bamford MK and Pante M (2018) Lahar inundated, modified and preserved 1.88 Ma early hominin (OH24 and OH56) Olduvai DK site. Journal of Human Evolution 116:27-42. DOI
Colcord et al. . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: *Colcord DE, *Shilling AM, Sauer P, Freeman KH, Njau JK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Schick KD, Toth N and Brassell SC (2018) Sub-Milankovitch palaeoclimatic and paleoenvironmental variability in East Africa recorded by Pleistocene lacustrine sediments from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 495:284-291. DOI
de la Torre et al. Journal Human Evolution (Special Issue): de la Torre I, McHenry LJ, and Njau JK (2018) From the Oldowan to the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal Human Evolution (Special Issue) 120:1-421. DOI
Pante et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Pante MC, Njau JK, Hensley-Marschand B, Keevil TL, Martín-Ramos C, Peters RF, and Torre I (2018) The carnivorous feeding behavior of early Homo at HWK EE, Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 120:215-235. DOI
Prassack et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Prassack K, Pante MC, Njau JK and de la Torre I (2018) The Paleoecology of Fossil Birds from Middle Bed II, at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 120:32-47. DOI
Rivals et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Rivals F, Uno K, Bibi F, Pante M, Njau JK and de la Torre I (2018) Dietary traits of the ungulates from the HWK EE site at Olduvai Gorge,Tanzania: Diachronic changes and seasonality. Journal of Human Evolution 120:203-214. DOI
Bibi et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Bibi F, Pante M, Souron A, Stewart K, Varela S, Werdelin L, Boisserie JR, Fortelius M, Hlusko L, Njau JK and de la Torre I (2018) Large mammals and fish from the Oldowan-Acheulean transition at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and the paleoecology of the Serengeti. 120:48-75. DOI
de la Torre et al. Journal of Human Evolution: de la Torre I, Albert RM, Arroyo A, Macphail R, McHenry LJ, Mora R, Njau JK, Pante MC, Rivera-Rondon CA, Rodríguez-Cintas A, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H and Wehr K (2018) New excavations at the HWK EE site: archaeology, paleoenvironment and site formation processes during late Oldowan times at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 120:140-202. DOI
Uno et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Uno K, Rivals F, Bibi F, Pante M, Njau JK and de la Torre I (2018) Large mammal diets and paleoecology across the Oldowan-Acheulean transition at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania from stable isotope and tooth wear analyses. Journal of Human Evolution 120:76-91. DOI
Albert et al. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology: Albert RM, Bamford MK, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Rivera-Rondon CA, Njau JK and Blumenschine RJ (2018) River-fed wetland palaeovegetation and palaeoecology at the HWK W site, Bed I, Olduvai Gorge. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 259:223-241. DOI
Pante et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Pante MC, Muttart MV, Keevil TL, Blumenschine RJ, Njau JK, and Merritt S (2017) A new high-resolution 3-D quantitative method for identifying bone surface modifications with implications for Early Stone Age archaeological record. Journal of Human Evolution 102:1-11. DOI

Publications 2016-2013

Njau and Gilbert FOROST (Forensic Osteology): Njau JK and Gilbert WH (2016) Standardizing terms for crocodile-induced bite marks on bone surfaces in light of the frequent bone modification equifinality found to result from crocodile feeding behavior, stone tool modification, and trampling. FOROST (Forensic Osteology) 3:1-13.
Johnson et al. Palaios: Johnson CC, Njau JK, Van Damme D, Schick K and Toth N (2016) Paleoecologic significance of freshwater bivalves, Bed III, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaios 31:319-326. DOI
McHenry et al. Quaternary Research: McHenry LJ, Njau JK, de la Torre I and Pante MC (2016) Geochemical “fingerprints” for Olduvai Gorge Bed II tuffs and implications for the Oldowan–Acheulean transition. Quaternary Research 85:147-158. DOI
Jorayev et al. Journal of Archaeological Science: Jorayev G, Wehr K, Benito-Calvo A, Njau JK and Torre I (2016) Imaging and photogrammetry models of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) by unmanned aerial vehicles: a high-resolution digital database for research and conservation of Early Stone Age sites. Journal of Archaeological Science 75:40-56. DOI
Habermann et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Habermann J, Stanistreet IG, Stollhofen H, Albert RM, Bamford MK, Pante M, Njau JK and Masao FT (2016) In situ ~2.0 Ma trees discovered as fossil rooted stumps, lowermost Bed I, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Journal of Human Evolution 90:74-87. DOI
Cherin et al. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana: Cherin M, Iurino DA, Njau JK and Masao FT (2016) New material of hyaenids (Mammalia, Carnivora) from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania (Early Pleistocene). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 55(1):1-9
Hlusko et al. American Journal of Physical Anthropology: Hlusko LJ, Reiner WR and Njau JK (2015) A one-million-year-old hominid distal ulna from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 158:36-42. DOI
Njau Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology: Njau JK (2013) Olduvai Gorge Archaeological Site. C. Smith (ed.), Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology.
Masao et al. Africa, cradle of humanity: Recent discoveries: Masao FT, Anton S and Njau JK (2013) Results of recent investigations of the Oldowan and associated hominid remains at the DK site, Olduvai Gorge. In: Africa, cradle of humanity: Recent discoveries. Travaux du Centre National de Recherches Préhistoriques, Anthropologiques et Historiques. Nouvelle série 18, Pp.147-187.

Publications 2012-2003

Njau BOOK: Crocodile Predation and Hominin Evolution: BOOK Crocodile Predation and Hominin Evolution: Landscape Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge. Saarbruken: Lambert Academic Publishing (2012) pp. 323. Amazon
Njau Science: Njau JK (2012) Reading Pliocene Bones. Science 336, 46-47. DOI
Njau and Blumenschine Journal of Human Evolution: Njau JK and Blumenschine RJ (2012) Crocodylian and Mammalian Carnivore Feeding Traces on Hominin Fossils from FLK 22 and FLK NN 3, Late Pliocene, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 63:408-417.
Blumenschine et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Blumenschine RJ, Stanistreet IG, Njau JK, Bamford MK, Masao FT, Albert RM, Stollhofen H, Andrews P, Prassak KA, McHenry LJ, Fernandez-Jalvo Y, Camilli EL and Ebert J (2012) Environments and Hominin Activities across FLK Peninsula During Zinjanthropus Times (1.84 Ma), Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 63:364-383.
Ungar et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Ungar PS, Krueger KL, Blumenschine RJ, Njau JK and Scott RS (2012) Dental microwear texture analysis of hominins recovered by the Olduvai Landscape Paleoanthropology Project, 1995-2007. J. Human Evolution 63:429-437.
Renne et al. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: Renne PR, Mulcahy SR, Cassata WS, Morgan LE, Kelley SP, Hlusko LJ, and Njau JK (2012) Retention of inherited Ar by alkali feldspar xenocrysts in a magma: Kinetic constraints from Ba zoning profiles. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 93:129–142. DOI
Blumenschine et al. Journal of Human Evolution: Blumenschine RJ, Masao FT, Stollhofen H, Stanistreet IG, Bamford MK, Albert RM, Njau JK and Prassack KA (2012) Landscape distribution of Oldowan stone artifact assemblages across the fault compartments of the eastern Olduvai Lake Basin during early lowermost Bed II times. Journal of Human Evolution 63:384-394.
Westaway et al. Environmental Archaeology: Westaway M, Thompson J, Wood W and Njau JK (2011) Crocodile ecology and the taphonomy of early Australasian sites. Environmental Archaeology 16:124-136. DOI
Njau and Hlusko Journal of Human Evolution: Njau JK and Hlusko LJ (2010) Fine-Tuning Paleoanthropological Reconnaissance using High-Resolution Satellite Imagery: The Discovery of 28 New Sites in Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 59:680-684.
Brochu et al. PLoS One: Brochu CA, Njau JK, Blumenschine RJ and Densmore LD (2010) A New Horned Crocodile From Plio-Pleistocene Hominid Sites at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. PLoS One 5(2), e9333.
Louchart et al. Science: Louchart A, Wesselman H, Blumenschine RJ, Hlusko LJ, Njau JK, Black MT, Asnake M and White TD (2009) Taphonomic, Avian, and Small Vertebrate Indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus Habitat. Science 326:66.
Njau et al. Evolutionary Anthropology: Njau JK, Alemseged Z, Mbua E, and Pobiner B (2009) Fifty Years After Discovery of Zinjanthropus Conference. Evolutionary Anthropology 18:235-236.
Blumenschine et al. Breathing Life into Fossils: Blumenschine RJ, Peters CR, Capaldo SD, Andrews P, Njau JK, and Pobiner BL (2007) Vertebrate taphonomic perspectives on Oldowan hominin land use in the Plio-Pleistocene Olduvai Basin, Tanzania. In: Breathing Life into Fossils: Taphonomic Studies in Honor of C.K. Brain (T. Pickering, K. Schick, N. Toth eds.). Gosport, IN: Stone Age Institute Press. Pp. 161-179.
Njau and Blumenschine Journal of Human Evolution: Njau JK and Blumenschine RJ (2006) A Diagnosis of Crocodile Damage to Large Vertebrate Bones, With Fossil Examples From Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 50:142-162.
Blumenschine et al. Science: Blumenschine RJ, Peters CR, Masao FT, Clarke RJ, Deino AL, Hay RL, Swisher C, Ashley GM, McHenry LJ, Sikes NE, van der Merwe NJ, Tactikos JC, Cushing AE, Deocampo DM, Njau JK and Ebert JI (2003) Late Pliocene Homo and Hominid Land Use from Western Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Science 299:1217-1221.