From Gutsick Gibbon.
Hello My G + M Apes! Today, I’m helping raise money for a friend of the channel, Dr. Jon Baker. Jon has provided the breakdown of the funds needed and their purpose, below.
GoFundMe Link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-paleoclimate-research-in-armenia/cl/o
PayPal donations welcome at:
ageofrocks@gmail.com
Brief description of trip and purpose:
The diverse landscapes of the Transcaucasus have long served as a natural bridge between Europe and Asia for hominin groups, known to have intermittently occupied the region since ~2.2 million years ago but especially during the Middle–Upper Paleolithic (~130–12,000 years ago), when humans expanded from the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Plateau into the plains of Eurasia (modern Ukraine/Russia). In this study, we aim to elucidate gaps in the archeological record from geological proxies, as well as provide a detailed climate history of the Armenian Highlands.
We are raising funds to cover the bare minimum expenses (travel, accommodation, and supplies) for two research tasks:
• Reconnaissance field work to identify cave sites in the Armenian Highlands that could help answer our research questions. Supplies are needed to collect preliminary samples and set up devices to monitor the cave environment (10 days, 1 person; $2,264 total budget)
• Laboratory work to complete the last step of a Masters Thesis project in Geology, studying the paleoclimate of this region. Two cave samples (stalagmites) will be analyzed by Laser Ablation ICP-MS, an instrument used to measure the concentration of elements along the length of each sample at exceptionally high resolution (2 days, 1 persons; $1,909 total budget)
Our research group utilizes speleothems to reconstruct climatic and environmental change through time. Speleothems are mineral formations in caves, such as stalagmites and flowstones, and their precise chemical composition is connected to the surface environment by the rain and snow that slowly infiltrates through the rock and drips into the cave. Layer by layer, we can unravel that history with the help of advanced instrumentation that can determine both the abundance and isotopic ratios of key elements. In this project, we will further explore the use of biomarkers and ancient DNA left by organisms living in or above the cave.
Breakdown of budget:
A full itemized budget can be viewed here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0UYm3kOruXquIgs-I-6IEQgoA4CNlM0zQwkNmI08-0/
Field work for myself (10 days, 1 person):
Roundtrip train to Vienna, airfare to Yerevan, baggage, accommodation, and minimal food allowance: $1,592
Supplies for water/mineral collection: $98
Two automated data loggers suitable for cave environments: $575
Lab work for MS Student (2 days, 1 person):
Roundtrip train to Mainz, Germany: $230
Hotel (2 nights): $230
Food allowance: $69
