Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Research Associate, The Stone Age Institute
Adjunct Professor, Anthropology
Affiliate Faculty, African Studies Program, Indiana University
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.
Over the years I have established and collaborate in interdisciplinary research projects focusing on human evolution in Tanzania. They include;
*Indicates student publication
Njau, J.K., Toth, P., Schick, K., Stanistreet, I., McHenry, L.J., 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, T.M., *Colcord, D.E., *Shilling, A.M., Brassell, S.C., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., Schick, K.D., Toth, N., and Freeman, K.H. (2021) Biased preservation of Pleistocene climate variability proxies at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 562. DOI
Torre, I.d.l., Benito-Calvo, A., Martín-Ramos, C., McHenry, L.J., Mora, R., Njau, J.K., Pante, M., Stanistreet, I.G., 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, H., Stanistreet, I.G., Toth, N., Schick, K.D., Rodríguez-Cintas, A., Albert, R.M., *Farrugia, P., Njau, J.K., Pante, M.C., Herrmann, E., Ruck, L., Bamford, M.K., Blumenschine, R.J., and Masao, F.T. (2021) Olduvai's Oldest Oldowan. Journal of Human Evolution 150. DOI
Njau, J.K., Herrmann, E.W., Ruck, L., Pante, M., *Farrugia, P., Toth, N., Schick., K., Stollhofen, H., and Stanistreet, I.G. (2020) Core stratigraphy constrains Bed IV archaeological record at HEB site, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 552. DOI
Parisi, L., Stanistreet, I.G., Njau, J.K., 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, L.J., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., 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, L. J., Kodikara, G.R.L., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., 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, A.L., Heil, C., King, J., McHenry, L.J., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., Mwankunda, J., Schick, K.D., 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, M., Torre, I.d.l., d’Errico, F., Njau, J.K., and Blumenschine, R.J., (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, A., Albert, R.M., Bamford, M.K., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Stone, J.R., Rivera-Rondon, C., Pronzaro, R., Njau, J.K., 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, A.S., *Colcord, D.E., Karty, J., Hansen, A., Freeman, K.H., Njau, J.K., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Schick, K.D., Toth, N., and Brassell, S.C. (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, I.G., Boyle, J.F., Stollhofen, H., Deocampo, D., Deino, A., McHenry, L.J., Toth, N., Schick, K., and Njau, J.K. (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, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Deino, A., McHenry, L., Toth, N., Schick, K., and Njau, J.K. (2020) New Olduvai Basin stratigraphy and stratigraphic concepts revealed by OGCP cores into the Palaeolake Olduvai depocentre, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 554. DOI
Stanistreet, I.G., Doyle, C., Hughes, T., Rushworth, E.R., Stollhofen, H., Toth, N., Schick, K., and Njau, J.K. (2020) Changing depocentre environments of Palaeolake Olduvai and carbonates as marker horizons for hiatuses and lake-level extremes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 560. DOI
*Shilling, A.M., *Colcord, D. E., Karty, J., Hansen, A., Freeman, K. H., Njau, J. K., Stanistreet, I. G., Stollhofen, H., Schick, K. D., Toth, N., and Brassell, S.C. (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, D.E., *Shilling, A., Freeman, K. H., Njau, J.K., Stanistreet, I.G., 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, S.R., Pante, M.C., Keevil, T.L., Njau, J.K., and Blumenschine, R.J. (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, K., Hanafy, S., Stanistreet, I.G., Njau, J.K., Schick, K., Toth, N., Stollhofen, H., and Schuster, G. (2019) Seismic imaging of the Olduvai Basin, Tanzania. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 533 DOI
Alemseged, Z., Njau, J.K., Pobiner, B., and Ndiema, E. (2019) Connecting palaeoscientists in eastern Africa and the wider world. Nature Ecology and Evolution. DOI
*Ascari, S., Njau, J.K., Polly, P.D., 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, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Njau, J.K., *Farrugia, P., Masao, F.T., Albert, R.M., Bamford, M.K., 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, D.E., *Shilling, A.M., Sauer, P., Freeman, K.H., Njau, J.K., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Schick, K.D., Toth, N., and Brassell, S.C. (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, I., McHenry, L.J., and Njau, J.K. (2018) From the Oldowan to the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal Human Evolution (Special Issue) 120:1-421. DOI
Pante, M.C., Njau, J.K., Hensley-Marschand, B., Keevil, T.L., Martín-Ramos, C., Peters, R.F., 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, K., Pante, M.C., Njau, J.K., 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, F., Uno, K., Bibi, F., Pante, M., Njau, J.K., 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, F., Pante, M., Souron, A., Stewart, K., Varela, S., Werdelin, L., Boisserie, J.R., Fortelius, M., Hlusko, L., Njau, J.K., 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, I., Albert, R.M., Arroyo, A., Macphail, R., McHenry, L.J., Mora, R., Njau, J.K., Pante, M.C., Rivera-Rondon, C.A., Rodríguez-Cintas, A., Stanistreet, I.G., 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, K., Rivals, F., Bibi, F., Pante, M., Njau, J.K., 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, R.M., Bamford, M.K., Stanistreet, I.G., Stollhofen, H., Rivera-Rondon, C.A., Njau, J.K., and Blumenschine, R.J. (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, M.C., Muttart, M.V., Keevil, T.L., Blumenschine, R.J., Njau, J.K., 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
Njau, J.K. and Gilbert, W.H. (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, C.C., Njau, J.K., 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, L.J., Njau, J.K., de la Torre, I., and Pante, M.C. (2016) Geochemical “fingerprints” for Olduvai Gorge Bed II tuffs and implications for the Oldowan–Acheulean transition. Quaternary Research 85:147-158. DOI
Jorayev, G., Wehr, K., Benito-Calvo, A., Njau, J.K., 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, J., Stanistreet I.G., Stollhofen, H., Albert, R.M., Bamford, M.K., Pante, M., Njau, J.K., and Masao, F.T. (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, M., Iurino, D.A., Njau, J.K., and Masao, F.T. (2016) New material of hyaenids (Mammalia, Carnivora) from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania (Early Pleistocene). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 55(1):1-9
Hlusko, L.J., Reiner, W.R. and Njau. J.K. (2015) A one-million-year-old hominid distal ulna from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 158:36-42. DOI
Njau, J.K. (2013) Olduvai Gorge Archaeological Site. C. Smith (ed.), Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology.
Masao, F.T., Anton, S., Njau, J.K. (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.
BOOK Crocodile Predation and Hominin Evolution: Landscape Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge. Saarbruken: Lambert Academic Publishing (2012) pp. 323. Amazon
Njau, J.K. (2012) Reading Pliocene Bones. Science 336, 46-47. DOI
Njau, J.K. and Blumenschine, R.J. (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, R.J., Stanistreet, I.G., Njau, J.K., Bamford, M.K., Masao, F.T., Albert, R.M., Stollhofen, H., Andrews, P., Prassak, K.A., McHenry, L.J., Fernandez-Jalvo, Y., Camilli, E.L., 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, P.S., Krueger, K.L., Blumenschine, R.J., Njau, J.K., and Scott, R.S. (2012) Dental microwear texture analysis of hominins recovered by the Olduvai Landscape Paleoanthropology Project, 1995-2007. J. Human Evolution 63:429-437.
Renne, P.R., Mulcahy, S.R., Cassata, W.S., Morgan, L.E., Kelley, S.P., Hlusko, L.J., and Njau, J.K. (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, R.J., Masao, F.T., Stollhofen, H., Stanistreet, I.G., Bamford, M.K., Albert, R.M., Njau, J.K., and Prassack, K.A. (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, M., Thompson, J., Wood, W., and Njau, J.K. (2011) Crocodile ecology and the taphonomy of early Australasian sites. Environmental Archaeology 16:124-136. DOI
Njau, J.K. and Hlusko, L.J. (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, C.A., Njau, J.K., Blumenschine, R.J., and Densmore, L.D. (2010) A New Horned Crocodile From Plio-Pleistocene Hominid Sites at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. PLoS One 5(2), e9333.
Louchart, A., Wesselman, H., Blumenschine, R.J., Hlusko, L.J., Njau, J.K., Black, M.T., Asnake, M., and White, T.D. (2009) Taphonomic, Avian, and Small Vertebrate Indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus Habitat. Science 326:66.
Njau, J.K., Alemseged, Z., Mbua, E., and Pobiner, B. (2009) Fifty Years After Discovery of Zinjanthropus Conference. Evolutionary Anthropology 18:235-236.
Blumenschine, R.J., Peters, C.R., Capaldo, S.D., Andrews, P., Njau, J.K., and Pobiner, B.L. (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, J.K. and Blumenschine, R.J. (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, R.J., Peters, C.R., Masao, F.T., Clarke, R.J., Deino, A.L., Hay, R.L., Swisher, C., Ashley, G.M., McHenry, L.J., Sikes, N.E., van der Merwe, N.J., Tactikos, J.C., Cushing, A.E., Deocampo, D.M., Njau, J.K., and Ebert, J.I. (2003) Late Pliocene Homo and Hominid Land Use from Western Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Science 299:1217-1221.
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