COST: Student participants are fully supported through a limited number of travel grants. All valid transportation, food, and housing are paid for by the grant while students are project participants. No stipend is included.  

ELIGIBILITY:  Undergraduates, recent graduates (within 1 yr), and graduate students are welcome to apply.

REQUIREMENTS:  Students who accept travel grants are expected to participate fully in the complete field season at either Boomplaas or Kasitu Valley (see dates above). Students may participate in both projects if desired.

HOW TO APPLY:  Please see instructions and submit your application through the HOMER SUMMER APPLICATION FORM.

DUE DATE:  March 1, 2023

NOTIFICATION:  We anticipate notifying all applicants of the award outcome by March 15, 2023.

ABOUT US:  The Human Origins Migration and Evolution Research consortium (HOMER) is a group of archaeological projects that share research aims, personnel, and resources. Although each individual project is operated independently of the others, all project members agree to work together in order to standardize their field and lab methods and maximize the information that can thus be extracted and compared between sites. The primary research question that they all share is that of the emergence of human uniqueness; in other words, when and where do we see evidence that people began to engage in hyper-prosocial behaviors at higher levels of organization than any other primate? Put briefly, the aim of HOMER is to cooperate in order to understand the origins of unique forms of human cooperation.

Students play a central role in HOMER in that their training and potential rotation through the projects is at the core of the cooperative ethos of the consortium. The Hyde Family Foundation awarded a $1M grant to the consortium via the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, which began in January 2018. The Hyde Family Foundation has long supported work by Prof. Curtis Marean at Pinnacle Point in South Africa, and this generous contribution enables us to take human origins research to the next level of inquiry through cooperative endeavors. HOMER has a further interest in the advancement of archaeological science in general, and the development of models of field directorship that are visibly more inclusive than has been historically the case.

EXPECTATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION: If you are awarded and accept a grant, the following expectations apply:

• You will remain at the field sites for the duration of the project, unless a medical or family emergency unexpectedly arises.
• You will fully participate to the best of your ability for a regular field schedule of 6 full days/week.
• You will read the information packets and living conditions documents for each project well in advance, understand them, and sign a waiver that acknowledges you are aware of any potential hazards and voluntarily undertake to participate without holding HOMER or any university affiliate liable.
• You will operate as part of a team for an extended period of time and behave in a culturally appropriate and professional manner.
• If traveling to a foreign site, you will have a valid passport (not covered by the grant) with at least six months’ validity beyond the final date of your travel.
• You will take personal responsibility for applying for and documenting any visas or other requirements that may be specific to the country to which you are traveling (note – US citizens do not currently need to apply for a visa for travel to South Africa for periods of less than 90 days).
• You will provide your own clothing, luggage, sleeping bag, and basic working attire appropriate for the environment in which you will be working (e.g. sturdy boots, warm clothing, etc.).

OUR VALUES: HOMER projects are committed to providing a safe and fair working environment and will provide all technical personal protective equipment (NOT basic clothing) necessary for participation. All HOMER projects are committed to offering a harassment free workplace and a professional but informal working and living environment. HOMER projects do not discriminate against participants based on age, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or ethnic/racial background. Selection for grants will be based on a combination of the quality of the student’s academic background, their statement of intent, and the recommendations of their references. Students may be given preference if they have previously participated in a HOMER project member’s field or lab work and thus already demonstrated commitment to the discipline and familiarity with the materials. Application materials will be evaluated by all HOMER project directors.

HOMER PROJECT DIRECTORS:

UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR HOMER 2022 ACTIVITIES

27 June – 16 August Dr. Jessica Thompson will be leading excavations near the town of Lunjika Mission, at the Mazinga 1 and Sayile 1 sites in the Kasitu Valley of northern Malawi (age of materials is approximately 30,000 years ago – present).

4 July – 27 July Dr. Naomi Cleghorn will be leading a field lab at the town of Mossel Bay, South Africa, on archaeological materials from the Knysna Heads site on the southern coast (age of materials is approximately 55,000-11,500 years ago).

11 July – 12 August Dr. Jamie Hodgkins will be leading a field lab at the town of Erli, on archaeological materials from the Arma Veirana site in Liguria, Italy (age of materials is approximately 65,000 – 10,000 years ago).

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME NOW?

If you wish to apply, consider the below scheduling options and travel requirements…

• You will have two options:
  • 1) Begin in South Africa for labwork to arrive in Mossel Bay by 4 July. Then depart for Lilongwe in Malawi around 15 July. You will then be able to participate in a week-long field excursion to the Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve to observe the miombo open woodland ecology and the Karonga Museum and paleontological sites (including early hominin sites of Uraha Hill and Malema). Excavations will resume at both the Mazinga and Sayile sites on 25 July and go until 12 August. You will attend the Umthetho cultural festival and then visit Lake Malawi for two days. Return to Lilongwe by 17 August for departure from Malawi by 19 August.
  • 2) Begin in Malawi by arriving on either 23 or 27 June to connect with the group for travel to the field site. Excavate at Mazinga 1 for three weeks. You will then be able to participate in a week-long field excursion to the Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve to observe the miombo open woodland ecology and the Karonga Museum and paleontological sites (including early hominin sites of Uraha Hill and Malema). Depart back to Lilongwe on Saturday, 23 July for departure by 25 July. Then travel to Italy until 12 August.
• Remember that you will need at least two days of extra travel at the start and end of the journey to accommodate travel to and from the field to the airports, plus covid-19 testing
• Ensure you have the ability to get a passport in time for these dates
• Ensure that you have the ability to get a visa to each applicable country in time for these dates
• Ensure that you have time to get all applicable health checks, vaccinations, and malaria prophylaxis (if applicable) in time for these dates

WHEN WAS THAT DEADLINE AGAIN? 

We would like to see your applications by Tuesday, 10 May at midnight.

Dig into Stone Age Research!   

The HOMER research consortium is calling for applicants to participate in archaeological field and lab research at Stone Age sites in Malawi, South Africa, and Italy. 

Dates: 23 June – 19 August (a 7-8 week period within that range).

Cost: All valid travel expenses paid. There is no stipend above travel-related expenses. Travel must be within Africa or between Africa and Italy.

Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students who are African nationals and currently enrolled in archaeology, environmental science, geology, or related programs at African universities.

What is HOMER? The Human Origins Migration and Evolution Research (HOMER) Project is a research consortium funded by Hyde Family Foundations and Arizona State University.

Currently, HOMER comprises five PIs of research projects in South Africa, Malawi, and Italy. We aim to train the next generation of human origins and paleoscience researchers in archaeological field methods at multiple sites in multiple contexts – but using the same system of data recording and processing. By using the same data recording systems we can take advantage of the small, independent advances we each make at our own project sites, and make the transition between projects more seamless for all participants. We can also produce data that are comparable to one another and therefore can facilitate meaningful comparisons between archaeological assemblages in very different contexts. By providing opportunities for students to rotate between projects, they can see the same methods deployed in very different contexts, and experience different cultural contexts of collaborative paleoscientific research.

What is happening in 2022? The 2022 field season will feature rotations of students between fieldwork in Malawi (Kasitu Valley excavations and survey) and either South Africa (Knysna heads field lab processing) or Italy (Arma Veirana field lab processing).

Why am I hearing about this now? Because of uncertainties in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to plan HOMER fieldwork. Our plans are now established and we are welcoming student applications.

How do I apply? Contact Dr. Jessica Thompson here with the following information attached as email attachments (English required):

• A one-page statement (~500 words) detailing the following: 1) Why you want to participate in HOMER, and what you believe you will gain from it; 2) Where this experience fits into your personal and academic goals; 3) Where you see your career in three years’ time; and 4) What your expectations are for the field conditions you will experience, challenges you anticipate, and how you propose to deal with them.
• A short CV with your name and contact details that highlights your educational and related experiential background, with a statement of your current grades and academic standing.
• Two (2) letters of reference from an academic mentor, faculty member, or other similar person evaluating (briefly) how this experience will aid in your career. If you can only provide one letter at short notice, please explain this in your statement.

What are the selection criteria? Selection for grants will be based on a combination of the quality of the student’s academic background, their statement of intent, and the recommendations of their references.

What is the deadline? Please submit your applications by 10 May, 2022. 

When will I receive an answer? We will notify you by 20 May, 2022 if we can support you.

How many students can participate? We expect to be able to select two student participants with this program.

Other information: You must demonstrate your ability to obtain all appropriate visas prior to purchasing airfares. HOMER is not responsible for errors or omissions on legal paperwork, including visa applications. You must be willing to accept and abide by the HOMER code of conduct and community compact. You must be capable, willing, and eager to undertake the required field and lab activities. You must agree to sign a waiver freeing all PIs and their associated institutions of all liability relating to the consequences of accidents or other hazards that can happen in the field.

The HOMER PIs and localities are:

Dr. Jessica Thompson, Yale University: Kasitu Valley, a series of Terminal Pleistocene and Holocene rock shelters in northern Malawi that have produced unique information about the evolution of the Zambezian Biome and some of the earliest ancient human DNA in Africa

Dr. Naomi Cleghorn, Knysna Heads, a cave site that captures the poorly-represented part of the terminal Pleistocene in coastal South Africa

Dr. Jamie Hodgkins, Arma Veirana, a Middle Paleolithic to Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic cave site that recently had some press for having an early decorated female infant burial

Dr. Justin Pargeter, Boomplaas, a Pleistocene-Holocene cave site that samples the poorly-understood arid interior of South Africa

Dr. Curtis Marean, Pinnacle Point, a Middle Stone Age multi-site locality that has generated many important discoveries about early human technological behavior in South Africa

Brief HOMER code of conduct and community compact: HOMER projects are committed to providing a safe and fair working environment and will provide all technical personal protective equipment (NOT basic clothing) necessary for participation. All HOMER projects are committed to offering a harassment free workplace and a professional but informal working and living environment. HOMER projects do not discriminate participants based on age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic/racial background, or political identity.

Prospective students, please note that I will not be at Emory after December 2018. Until December 2018, please continue to correspond with me at my Emory email address.

This is an exciting move, but bittersweet. Emory University and especially the Department of Anthropology have been the most excellent of places to work, and I hope to maintain the many ties I have made here well into the future.

The Dikika team received some recent press for our new article in the Journal of Human Evolution. Thanks to the entire team!

http://news.emory.edu/stories/2015/08/esc_bone_marks/campus.html

http://www.livescience.com/51936-human-ancestors-may-have-butchered-animals.html