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IMPORTANT NOTE: We have maintained the originally published taxonomic designation for each specimen despite the fact that many of these specimens have been reclassified since.  We chose to follow this protocol because of the difficulty in keeping up to date with all of the taxonomic groups, and our hesitancy to make a judgement call on taxonomic debates.  As such, please search the database with this in mind, perhaps using higher level taxonomic classifications for your query.

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3807 specimens found
Image Spec # CODI Database ID Arch. Locality Geo. Locality Elements Preserved Excavation Date Repository Bed Level Stratigraphic Horizon Bibliographic Information Curatorial Notes ID By ID Date Research Team In Situ Sediment or Matrix Adhering Class Order Suborder Infraorder Superfamily Family Subfamily Tribe Genus Species Subspecies Taxonomic Notes Taxonomic Problems
OVPP-L-1647 10510 86 - HK 10 bone fragments of various species 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania 1 Giraffidae molar, 3 fish spines, & other indeterminate fragments Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1635 10497 41 - WK E 15 Bone fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Mammalia Yes
OVPP-L-1571 10493 297 - TK Fish Gully 15 Small fragments including fish spines, Bovidae tooth fragment, microfauna bone fragments , 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1618 10500 41 - WK E 19 Bone fragments, including fish, Bovidae phalanx, and others 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1649 10512 86 - HK 2 Horn core fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OVPP-L-1651 10514 86 - HK 2 Indeterminate bone fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OLD-1 12394 70 - EHK 2 RIB (proximal); PHX 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-1; EHK I S 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Yes
OVPP-L-1637 10499 41 - WK E 3 Shaft fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Mammalia Yes
OVPP-L-1634 10496 41 - WK E 5 Bone fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Mammalia Yes
OVPP-L-1643 10505 298 - CMK 7 Indeterminate bone fragments 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1658 10521 86 - HK 9 Elements: horn core fragment, distal femur, and distal metapodial 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Various taxonomy includes Aves, Bovidae, Leporidae, + others Unknown Yes
M. 17090 10388 A broken fragment of the left side of a mandible with damaged first molar, but with second and third molars intact. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Holotype. Formerly Coryndon Museum No. F. 3666. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus olduvaiensis Yes
M. 17074 10385 A fragment of mandible with a well preserved lower third molar 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I top of Bed I F.L.K. LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
M. 17112 10387 An upper third molar in a fragment of maxilla. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II F.L.K. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
OVPP-L-1570 10492 297 - TK Fish Gully Approximately 400 small bone fragments of microfauna, fish and crocodile 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-Mammalia 3801 83 - FLK NW AST, (n=33), CAL, (n=73), FEM, (n=272), HUM, (n=186), I, (n=316), M, (n=108), MAN, (n=161), MAX, (n=68), MTP, (n=257), PHX, (n=77), PVG, (n=218), RAD, (n=55), SCP, (n=40), TIB, (n=395), ULNA, (n=76), VER, (n=595) I 20 Arcos, S., Sevilla, P., and Fernandez-Jalvo, Y. 2010. Preliminary small mammal taphonomy of FLK NW level 20 (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Quarternary Research 74:405-410. MNI is 198. Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". Unknown Mammalia Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". No
OVPP-Canis 1 3889 7 - FLK North AST, CAL, MTP I Zinjanthropus 3 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author does not specify number of each element or whether any of the specimens are from the same individual. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris No
OH 15 3730 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" C , M 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle Above level of OH 13. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. One canine, two molars. Canine is worn, molars are upper molars. "The teeth are exceedingly robust and show an unusual degree of wear. They were not found in close association; one molar and the canine lay approximately I ft. "Qelow the top of the tuff in which they occurred, whilst the second molar was 4 ft. distant and 1 ft. deeper in the deposit" (Leakey MD, 1971:232). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 7 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo No
F490 3028 6 - FLK NN CARA-f, LIMB, PLAS-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. Original information indicated that this specimen was located in Nairobi. This specimen is likely within the material that was repatriated to Dar in 2011, but this has yet to be confirmed. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
FLK NI 7985 10225 7 - FLK North CARMET 1960-2 I Haarhoff, P.J. 1993. Latest Pliocene mousebirds (Aves, Coliidae) from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ann S Afr Mus. 103:191–211. Carpometacarpus I lacking metacarpal III and posterior carpal trochlea. "The specimen numbers are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai fossil birds, and the data are kept at the Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville. The fossils belong to the Tanzanian Ministry of Antiquities, Dar es Salaam. They were collected by Mary Leakey in 1960-1962" (Haarhoff, 1993:193). Unknown Aves Coliiformes Coliidae Colius cf. striatus No
OLD 1920 10171 7 - FLK North CARMET-f I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Distal portion. "Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo cf. lacteus No
OVPP Bubo 3 10185 7 - FLK North COR-f , HUM-f , RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET-f , FEM-f , TBT , CUNE , PHX I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Coracoid, 2 upper and 2 lower parts; humerus, 3 distal parts; radius, 2 proximal parts; ulna, 1 distal part; carpometacarpus, 3 proximal parts; femur, 4 proximal parts and 1 distal; tibiotarsus, 3 distal parts; tarsometatarsus, 1 almost complete, 1 proximal and 1 distal parts; 1 ulnare (listed in elements as cuneiform); 20 pedal phalanges. Authors do not specify specimen numbers and refer to these specimens as "referred material". Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:17, 19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae No
M. 21447 181 23 - TK CRA, L/R-MAX-f, L-HOR, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-I 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III, IV 4 feet below Masek Beds Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This neotype specimen is pictured in plates 81 and 82. The original holotype of M. kattwinkelli (VI-1099) was lost in WWII in Munich. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Xenocephalus kattwinkelli Neotype - This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Megalotragus kattwinkeli. No
M. 21460/OR-NR VIII 343 205 CRA, MAX, HOR, M, P 1913 109 - BSPG, Munich, Germany(?)/ NHM UK(?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This holotype was collected by Reck in 1913 and is housed in the Munich Museum, registered as OR-NR VIII 343. The BMNH number, M. 21460 is for the cast and is shown in plate 87. Locality was not provided by the author. 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Holotype - This specimen was reclassified as Antidorcas recki by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
OVPP-Hippopotamus 1 112 CRA, MAX, MAN 104 - Unknown I, II, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author mentions several specimens from beds 1, 2, and 4. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops No
FLK NN I 177/1960 107 6 - FLK NN CRA, MAX, P, M, C 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I middle 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 28. This skull is "very crushed."Original information indicated that this specimen was located in Nairobi. This specimen is likely within the material that was repatriated to Dar in 2011, but this has yet to be confirmed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Potamochoerus intermedius Holotype No
FLK N I 1235 105 7 - FLK North CRA, MAX, P, M 1961 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 25. It is the same individual as FLK N I 1236. The specimen is crushed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Ectopotamochoerus dubius Holotype No
OVPP-Papio 2 245 6 - FLK NN CRA, MAX 1962 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Skull is severely crushed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Papio indet. No
068/6514 3711 34 - MLK CRA, MAX-f, R/L-P, R/L-M 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey, M. G., and Leakey, R. E. F. 1973. Pleistocene Colobinae from East Africa. Leakey, L. S. B., Savage, R. J. G., Coryndon, S. C., eds. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 3. London: Academic Pr This specimen is pictured in plate 3. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Colobinae Colobini Cercopithecoides kimeui Holotype No
S. 208 1099 CRA, PAL-f, L-M 1970 104 - Unknown Lemuta Tuff Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. This specimen is pictured in plate 32, figure 1. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. This specimen has some resemblance to Rabaticeras arambourgi. It is a different species than specimen 1963.068/5976. No
1931 II 35 8808 CRA, R/d-P, R/d-M, L/d-P, L/d-M 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Dietrich, W.O. 1937. Pleistoz Reck Field No.: none. Dietrich 1937:97 states this is probably from Bed IV. Leakey 1965 refers to Koiropotamus as Potamochoerus (Koiropotamus). Museum label notes: juv., female, Horizont 4. Almost complete cranium w R dP4-M1, L P1, L dP4-M1. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Koiropotamus Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OLD 69 S.196 DK II 8089 24 - DK CRA, R/L-C, M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Partial cranium with partial R/LC-M3. Only roots present for RM2 and LM3. Left side and posterior portion of vault not present. Specimen in bag with two cards which probably do not belong to specimen. Needs preparation. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
M. 21461 118 13 - RK CRA, R/L-HOR, R-I, R-P, R-M 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 38 and 39. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros grandis Holotype. Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros grandis. No
FLK N I 1961.7154 893 7 - FLK North CRA, R/L-HOR, R/L-M, R-P 104 - Unknown II middle Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. This specimen is pictured in plate 15. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Connochaetes sp. No
OLD 77/S.341 8081 CRA, R/L-M-f, R/L-C 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Complete cranium with R/L canines, R/L M1 (fragmentary) and RM3 unerupted but present in crypt. Sub adult. Needs preparation. Eastern side of the Gorge. Note: There is another card with the specimen but appears to have been misplaced. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OH 24 3739 74 - DK E CRA , M , P 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Lower Surface Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Cranium is crushed. Teeth not specified. From same horizon as OH 4. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis No
OH 5 3713 5 - FLK 283 - 45 CRA , MAX , M , I , C , P 17 July - 6 August 1959 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Middle (Zinj.) 22 feet below the upper limit of Bed I (Tuff IF), approximately 20 feet above basalt. Leakey, L. S. B. 1959. A new fossil skull from Olduvai. Nature 184:491-493. Holotype. Almost complete cranium. Adolescent. One reconstructed fossil found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Additional pieces from NMK unpublished. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Zinjanthropus boisei Holotype. This specimen was reclassified as Paranthropus boisei by Robinson (1960). No
UNLABELED SPECIMEN OLD? 1 8166 CRA-f, I, M, TOOTH-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Unlabeled cranial and dental fragments including incisor and third molar. Label on box containing fragments states "Simopithecus skull fragments etc". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
1931 II 1295 8536 CRA-f, L-TEM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Dozens of cranial frags, incl. L temporal. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 306. Note that VI 306 was given as a field number for both the Thaleroceros specimen 1931 II 101 and the horn core that attaches to the skull of Megalotragus 1931 II 666. Strange because this may be the only case of a duplicated field number for 2 such different specimens. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-576 9949 CRA-f, L/R-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Right on top of ignimbrite. -- Partial cranium with left M1-2 and right M1-3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Deinotheriidae Deinotherium No