Niguss Baraki

Background

Program: Human Paleobiology PhD

Year of Entry: Fall 2019

Advisor: David Braun

Current Research

Niguss' research involves understanding the evolutionary connection between tool making and the human hand, and the influence of the former on changes in human adaptations through time. In this regard, understanding whether or not the derived morphological features evident in the human hand evolved in response to manipulative behavioral activities during stone tool production is the primary focus of his research. He is also intrigued to further understand the relationship between manipulative capabilities associated with the use of non-stone-tool based behaviors and locomotion, especially in relation to the human-like morphological features that emerged prior to the onset of stone tool use.

Education

BA (Archaeology and Heritage Management), 2012, Addis Ababa University
MA (Archaeology), 2015, Addis Ababa University

Publications

2019  David R. Braun, Vera Aldeias, Will Archer, J Ramon Arrowsmith, Niguss Baraki, Christopher J. Campisano, Alan L. Deino, Erin N. DiMaggio, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, Blade Engda, David A. Feary, Dominique I. Garello, Zenash Kerfelew, Shannon P. McPherron, David B. Patterson, Jonathan S. Reeves, Jessica C. Thompson, and Kaye E. Reed. Earliest known Oldowan artifacts at>2.58 Ma from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia, highlight early technological diversity. PNAS, Vol. 116 (24):11712-11717. 

2017  Baraki, NG, Yemane Gebru, Tadele Solomon, Ariadne A. Thevendran, Milena Hauia and Mikael Fortelius. A Comparative Analysis on domestic goats (Capra hircus) from Turkwel and Ileret, Turkana Basin, Kenya, Presented at the 6^th biennial International conference of Eastern African Association of Paleoanthropologists and Paleontologists, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Distinctions

National Geographic Society (2021)

Baldwin fellow-Leakey Foundation (2019-2021)