Final answer:
Paleoanthropologists are the anthropologists who explore rift valleys and deep caves to study fossils and understand human evolution. They analyze fossil evidence and ancient material culture to learn about the origins and development of human ancestors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kind of anthropologists who explore ancient rift valleys and deep caves in search of landforms with fossils of human ancestors are known as paleoanthropologists. These scientists specialize in the study of fossil evidence to understand human evolution. They examine physical morphologies, such as skulls and postcranial material, to form hypotheses about our evolutionary history. Additionally, they may study ancient material culture including tools and other human artifacts.
Paleoanthropologists work to piece together the puzzling part of humanity's past by building hypotheses around fragmentary fossil evidence. Their discoveries in the valleys and deep caves have shed light on the story of our ancestors, including famous finds like "Lucy" in the Great Rift Valley. Their efforts extend beyond fossils to include genetic studies of contemporary and early modern humans, adding to our understanding of our evolutionary past and the relationships among various hominid species.