After staying the night in Lothagam's Nawata river beds, professor Craig Feibel, TBI students and staff continued their exploration of the site's complex geology and terrain. Temperatures during the two day excursion were sometimes as high as 115 F, but students were able to navigate a great portion of Lothagam's exposures. Below, students hike through [...]
Lothagam, on the southwest border of Lake Turkana, is one of the most important Miocene fossil bearing sites in the Rift Valley. Rising like a paleontological oasis from the desert, Lothagam consists of a series of high ridges, ravines, and fault planes that expose geological formations dating from 10,000 to 14 million years ago. Professor [...]
TBI students headed east along the Turkwell River, early last week, to map the stratigraphy of the Epim site: a series of lakebed and shoreline deposits that are less than 10,000 years old. Working diligently throughout the early morning hours, as shepherds passed bringing their goats to graze or feed at the river, students documented [...]
Craig Feibel brought Field School students on Sunday to Central Island, one of three volcanic islands in Lake Turkana. Formed within the last 10,000 years and active as recently as the 1970's, Central Island is the perfect place to study the tectonic and volcanic processes that continue to shape East Africa's Rift Valley. Craig Feibel [...]
Aiyangiyang is an anomaly in the Turkana landscape. Dominated by sand dunes, thorny acacias and a relentless sun, Turkana receives so little rain that it is often classified as a desert. But for a few months each year Aiyangiyang becomes an oasis for the people and animals who live in this region. During the spring [...]
The geography of a landscape is key to understanding its geology and natural history. The Turkana Basin Institute, located along the Kenyan portion of the Rift Valley west of Lake Turkana, overlooks a complex terrain that includes not only the modern Turkwell river, but also bluffs, ravines and terraces that are thousands, and sometimes millions [...]
Following an introduction by professor Craig Feibel in geological mapping and stratigraphic processes, TBI students apply their knowledge to begin a study of the Turkwell River and its history. The Turkwell in its modern form is an important source of livelihood for the Turkana people, and the center of a semidesert ecosystem west of Lake [...]
The Turkwel River has had an important influence on the landscape on which our human ancestors lived. The river provided water to support a riverine forest, eroded parts of the land, and deposited massive amounts of sediments too. The TBI Turkwel camp overlooks 3.5 million year old deposits of the ancient Turkwel river The Turkwel [...]
The first module of the field school is being taught by Professor Craig Feibel. This course will give a good overview of the sediments in the Turkana Basin going back several million years, This comprehensive course covers everything from details of the geology to how to map, measure sections and looking at modern examples of [...]
The flight left from Nairobi to Lodwar on the morning of the 17th of January and the students were met in Lodwar and driven the 3/4 hour to the field station at Turkwel. The flight left from Nairobi to Lodwar on the morning of the 17th of January and the students were met in Lodwar [...]
The idea behind employment is not only to earn a living but to also acquire a skill that will benefit you. The idea behind employment is not only to earn a living but to also acquire a skill that will benefit you. This was admirable about the great efforts from Kang'agetei sub location when a [...]
After weeks of trial and error, training and learning, heart breaks and celebrations,the members of Nakechichok Women's group harvested some spinach,onion, and water melons. After weeks of trial and error, training and learning, heart breaks and celebrations,the members of Nakechichok Women's group harvested some spinach,onion, and water melons. After the harvest, having tasted the fruits [...]
The welding the 7m lengths of pipe into 351m rolls was completed last week. Now the laying of the pipes along the 8 km trench has begun. The rolls of pipe were transported to the trench and were be fed down the pipeline. The final welding together of the 351m pipe lengths is then done [...]
Discovering a fossil specimen is the crowning moment for any fossil hunter. This work requires both mental and physical input in order for the fossil specimens that adorn our museums to be exhibited. Discovering a fossil specimen is the crowning moment for any fossil hunter. This work requires both mental and physical input in order [...]
TBI supported yet another access to free medical services for eye patients through the annual eye camp organized by Medical and Education Aid to Kenya (MEAK). TBI supported yet another access to free medical services for eye patients through the annual eye camp organized by Medical and Education Aid to Kenya (MEAK). One of the [...]
To further its support for TBI's education program, the Ceres Charitable Foundation has generously provided a third grant of $25,000 to help build new school structures for Telesgaye Primary School in Sieslucho, Ileret. To further its support for TBI's education program, the Ceres Charitable Foundation has generously provided a third grant of $25,000 to help [...]
The Australian High Commission's Direct Aid Program (DAP) donated $29,000 to TBI to help build the capacity of Ileret Health centre and improve maternal child health and medical services in the region. The Australian High Commission's Direct Aid Program (DAP) donated $29,000 to TBI to help build the capacity of Ileret Health centre and improve [...]
Hillary Sale at a glance will pass off as a calm man; one who has little to tell but there is no doubt that behind this facade is a man who has seen much more Hillary Sale at a glance will pass off as a calm man; one who has little to tell but there [...]
The ninth annual Stony Brook Human Evolution Workshop, “Our ancestors’ ancestors: the Miocene roots of the hominin tree” took place in Kenya, August 17 – 21, 2010. The ninth annual Stony Brook Human Evolution Workshop, “Our ancestors’ ancestors: the Miocene roots of the hominin tree” took place in Kenya, August 17 – 21, 2010. Participants [...]
The main structure of the Ileret ward is now complete. The building includes a delivery room and a six bed ward. The main structure of the Ileret ward is now complete. The building includes a delivery room and a six bed ward. Funds to complete the ward, including the electrical wiring, water collection and pipes, [...]