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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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645 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
F904 3096 16 - LK PERI 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I -- 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
F905 3097 16 - LK PERI 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I -- 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
OVPP-Geochelone 3 3108 24 - DK PERI-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 Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis 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
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
OH 6 3721 5 - FLK 283 - 45 CRA-f , M-f , L-P , L-TIB-f , L-FIB-f , 1959/60 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Middle (Zinj.) Surface. Cranial and dental fragments found in surface soil from slope immediately below Zinj. site; assumed to be from Zinj. level (Leakey, MD, 1971:227). TIB-f and FIB-f from Zinj. level. Davis, P. R. 1964. Hominid fossils from Bed I, Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika. A tibia and fibula. Nature. 201, 967. From Tobias (1991): OH 35 tibia and fibula attributed to same individual as OH 6 but appear to be more mature. It is unclear if OH 35 tibia and fibula are the same tibia and fibula originally listed under OH 6. Leakey, MD, 1971 describes CRA and dental fragments as having been found in surface soil, but Leakey, Tobias, and Napier, 1964 state "some [were] found in situ [and] some on the surface" (:9). Unworn lower L-P3. Partially developed roots of upper M1 or 2. Six cranial vault fragments. Tibia and fibula fragments first assumed to be associated with Zinjanthropus OH5, but should be considered associates with OH 6 following morphological study (Leakey, MD, 1971:227). and skull fragments. Juvenile. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype. TIB-f and FIB-f not given taxonomic designation in original publication (Davis, 1964) but named as a paratype in Leakey, Tobias, and Napier, 1964. No
OH 35 3750 6 - FLK NN TIB , FIB 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 22 Davis, P. R. 1964. Hominid fossils from Bed I, Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika. A tibia and fibula. Nature. 201, 967. Almost complete. Attributed to same individual as skull fragments and teeth of OH 6 but appear to be more mature (Tobias, 1991). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis No
OH 50 3765 6 - FLK NN RIB-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 -- Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
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-Clarias 40 3857 6 - FLK NN L-CLEI-f 1960 I 2 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. This specimen was found in trench II extension E. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
1311 3901 7 - FLK North R-FEM, R-TIB I 4 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Ichneumia albicauda No
1311 7662 7 - FLK North R-FEM, R-TIB I 4 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Ichneumia albicauda No
OVPP-13 7691 MAN-f, M, I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Less than 0.5 meters above Bed I lava. -- In matrix, fragments; needs preparation. Possibly associated postcranial specimens. 157 - L. Hlusko 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OVPP-51 7729 MAN, M, I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Claystone interbedded with sandstone; concretions coming from sandstone above claystone; one meter above Tuff IB. -- Complete suid mandible in sandstone concretion. Needs significant preparation. Visible teeth unobscured by concretion are right and left central incisors and portion of left M3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OVPP-95 7773 M, I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Claystone 1 meter below Tuff 1D. -- Molar (A). Incisor (B). 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-312 7990 LIMB-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1 meter above Bed I lavas. -- distal long bone. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Aves No
DK I/98 8072 24 - DK L-I 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip I -- Lower left second incisor. Possibly cercocebus? Card in bag with specimen states "Old '63 DK I Strip I L/2". 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae No
OLD 61 067/4073 I DK I 8091 24 - DK RIB-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface -- Rib fragment with head and angle. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 61/067/2769 8099 5 - FLK d-TOOTH, d-C, d-I, d-M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Deciduous teeth including canine, incisors, molars. E/19 FLK I. Card in bag states "E-19( 8'-12')". All specimens in bag not labeled. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 61/2955 DK I T.T. 8110 74 - DK E I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I T.T.? -- Lateral incisor (I2). In bag with OLD 63/2969. Pleistocene. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 61/2969 MPC I 8111 74 - DK E I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I T.T.? surface -- Lower incisor. Card in bag states "Old '61 DK I. T.T. surface 067/2955." Specimen is in bag with OLD 61/2955 DK I T.T. Card in bag states "MPC I = DK I". Pleistocene. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
2154 8113 24 - DK I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip III -- Incisor. Card in bag states "Field no. 067/2954,STRIP III, L/2, DK I, incisor".Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/3114 DK I 8125 24 - DK I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 Strip II -- Upper incisor. The card in bag states "OLD '63 DK I Strip II L/3 cercopithecoidea, cercopithecidae". L/3 strip II. Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
2960 DK I WS 8127 87 - DK W I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface. -- Incisor. Card in bag states "?primate" and "067/2960." 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD/62 5159A 5159B DK I B 8281 24 - DK FIB-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 -- Two fibula fragments. Pleistocene. Card in bag with specimen states "Field no: 5759A 5759B." 2012/08/10 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OVPP-Erinaceus 92 8308 7 - FLK North I 104 - Unknown I Upper 3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
067/3916 DK I A S KNM 2.84 8183 24 - DK RIB-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I A? Surface. -- Proximal end of rib. Card in bag with specimen states "067/3916 (B) DK I A surface OLD/62". Pleistocene. 2012/08/01 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OVPP-Syncerus 6 773 14 - HWK E I?, P?, M? 104 - Unknown I, II 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. Authors mention "teeth" found here. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus sp. No
380 3930 I I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is lower I3. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
M. 20231 67 TIB-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No locality given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Pantherinae Panthera crassidens The author suggests this specimen may belong to the subfamily Machairodontinae. No
M. 20230 68 TIB 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No locality given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Pantherinae Panthera crassidens The author suggests this specimen may belong to the subfamily Machairodontinae. 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
OLD BK 2 132 264 10 - BK MAN, L/R-I 104 - Unknown 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 plate 20. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Stylohipparion sp. No
SHK II 1957.474 735 19 - SHK L-TIB-f 1957 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II 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. 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. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus scriptus The authors indicate this specimen is from a "bushbuck-sized tragelaphine", though it is described under the Tragelaphus aff. scriptus headline. No
OVPP-Pelorovis 86 752 27 - MNK I?, M?, P? 104 - Unknown II 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. The author states that teeth have been found at MNK but does not indicate which type(s) of teeth have been found. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
OVPP-Syncerus 3 767 10 - BK M?, I?, P? 104 - Unknown II 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. The authors discuss teeth found at BK II but does not specifically describe which type(s) of teeth are found. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus The authors describe these specimens as being smaller than P. oldowayensis. No
OVPP-Syncerus 7 774 23 - TK I?, P?, M? 104 - Unknown II 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. Authors mention "teeth" found here. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus sp. No
MJTK II 1962.068/6652 901 52 - MJTK R/L-HOR-f, CRA-f, M, I 1962 104 - Unknown II 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. The incisor may be a canine. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis No
BK II Ext 1953.417 1125 10 - BK TIB 1953 104 - Unknown II 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen is presumably from Megalotragus kattwinkelli or Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis. No
BK II 1963.2680 1126 10 - BK TIB 1963 104 - Unknown II 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen is presumably from Megalotragus kattwinkelli or Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis. No
BK II 1957.1379 1135 10 - BK TIB 1957 104 - Unknown II 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen is presumably from Megalotragus kattwinkelli or Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis. No