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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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165 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
DK I B/2/5169 KNM 2.9?7 8126 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Cranial fragment. Specimen in bag with 5168/DK I B/2. Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
BMNHM26550 (1) 9374 R-CRA-f 129 - National Natural History Museum, Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands (RMNH) -- Cranial fragments from right side of skull? 159 - R. Bernor Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Hipparionini Eurygnathohippus Inventoried by Ray Bernor. Identified by Bernor as genus Eurygnathohippus. No
OVPP-Otomys 4 3858 6 - FLK NN CRA-f, M, (n=3) I 3 Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Cranium has left and right upper M123. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri 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
1931 II 1111 8532 CRA-f, R-HOR-f 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:33. Cranium lacking face with braincase and much of right HOR. Label/publication taxon ID: Taurotragus oryx pachyceros. Reck Field No.: E 58. Holotype specimen of Taurotragus oryx pachyceros, which is a synonym of the living Taurotragus oryx (Gentry, 1995). Tribe may be Tragelaphini. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus oryx Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-422 9793 CRA, HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle 5 meters above Tuff 1F on top of aug. sandstone. -- Cranium with associated horn core. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
1931 II 666 8530 CRA, L-HOR 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Cranium with left horn core, lacking palate. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VII 1111 & VI 306. This is the Rhynotragus semiticus type specimen. In 1994 Anthea Gentry found that a horn core labelled VI 306 joins onto the previously hornless type cranium (though these have different field 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-424 9795 CRA, L/R-HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower Below Tuff 2A. -- Cranium with two horn cores. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
UNLABELED SPECIMEN OLD? 8 8291 CRA 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Cranium. Cast. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD 69/S.89 SHK E 8074 62 - SHK E CRA 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Cranium. Male. Specimen in bag with OLD 69/S.133 DC II (max frag. with M3). Sieving fragments in 81 I/K. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OH 12 3727 18 - VEK 286 - 86 OCC , L/R-PAR , L/R-TEM-f , CRA-f , L-PAL , L-MAX , TOOTH-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV? a Surface. Found on eroded slope of Bed III. L-TEM-f from just below marker Tuff IVa. Leakey, L., and Leakey, M. 1964. Recent discoveries of fossil hominids in tanganyika: at Olduvai and near Lake Natron. Nature 202:5-7. Crowns of teeth not preserved. Bed IVA determined on basis of matrix adhering to L-TEM-f and PAL. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No L-TEM-f & PAL found with matrix adhering. Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus 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
F. 3665 P.P.T. 4 124 16 - LK CRA, L-HOR-f, R-HOR 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Face and maxillae are missing. The holotype is pictured in plates 43 and 44. It was found on the surface between RK and LK. This eland is poorly represented at Olduvai. 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 No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus arkelli Holotype No
OVPP-Suncus 24 3854 7 - FLK North CRA-f I 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Facial part of the skull with palate with some teeth present (moderately worn). 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus varilla meesteri No
OVPP-Suncus 25 3855 7 - FLK North CRA-f I 1 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Facial part of the skull, crushed dorsally. Some dentition is preserved. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus varilla meesteri No
1931 II 1033 8531 R-CRA-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Fragment at zygomatic process of temporal. Label/publication taxon ID: Alcelaphus kattwinkeli. Reck Field No.: VII 468. This specimen's number was not visible in any photographs. As a result, the photograph was included because it is likely that the specimen is represented in this image. However, this is not confirmed and it is possible that the specimen is not in this photograph. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. 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 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
MB.Ma.49519 9219 CRA-f 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Holotype. Mfn room number: Outside 2251. Cabinet: Vitrine. Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.29305 9205 CRA 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany Horizont 3 -- Holotype. Reck field number: VIII 781. Mfn room number: 2251. Cabinet: P0448-6. Drawer: 71. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Otocyon recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
? 9220 CRA 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Holotype. Reck field number: XX 1475?. Mfn room number: Outside 2251. Cabinet: Vitrine. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OH 52 3767 24 - DK L-CRA-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Lower Surface. -- Incomplete left temporal. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis No
1931 II 1255 8534 CRA-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Indet cranial frags. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: none. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
M. 21464 184 19 - SHK CRA, R-HOR, L-HOR-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. It is also pictured in plate 5 C, D of Gentry (1966) where it is labeled as Phenacotragus recki. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Antidorcas recki. No
OH 14 3729 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" CRA-f , FRO-f , R-PAR-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle B Surface. Inferred as same horizon as OH 13 (Leakey MD, 1971). Leakey, L.S.B., Tobias, P.V. & Napier, J.R. 1964. A new species of the genus Homo from Olduvai Gorge. Nature 202(4927): 7-9. Juvenile (sutures unfused). Thin skull. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 11 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Juvenile, parietal is thin. No
OLD 69/S.133 DC II 8073 30 - DC MAX, TOOTH-f, CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Maxilla with tooth fragments and partial cranium. Enclosed card states "Glamour Boy". Very fragmentary, fragments very small. Needs preparation. Fragments of this specimen (a maxilla with M3) in bag with OLD 69/S.89 SHKE (cranium). 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OVPP-543 9914 CRA-f, HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1/2m above Tuff IA. 5m above OVPP-542, just below tuff with vesicles, reworked, little pebbles. -- Needs prep. Partial cranium with horn cores. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
M. 14690 66 CRA-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No locality is given by author. 293 - A.T. Hopwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Arctoidea Mustelidae Lutrinae Aonychini Aonyx No
OLD-107 12399 CRA 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-107; 1 cranium with many fragments Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae No
OLD-119 12409 CRA-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-119; based on note with specimen, may not be from Olduvai Unknown Mammalia large mammal Yes
OLD-1896 13221 CRA-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1896 Unknown unknown Yes
OLD-53 12696 CRA-f, L/R-MAN-f, SKEL-f, TOOTH-f, TUSK-f (23 total) 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-53; Immature CRA, MAN and SKEL frags and teeth and tusk frags. MAN-f has erupting tusk; Note says "please try and fit together". The left and right MAN frags fit along the symphysis Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-703 11900 CRA-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-703; found in hippopotamus drawer Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Hippopotamidae Yes
M 103953 12876 CRA-f (4) 1931 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-771 310 - Hopwood Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Behemota Bovoidea Bovidae cf. Connochaetes Unknown
M 103878 12912 FEM-f, CRA, CER (6) 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-816; partial cranium, FEM-f, cervical vertebrae; "Bed I Surface" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini cf. Syncerus (Faysal) Unknown
OVPP-Damaliscus 2 157 10 - BK CRA, HOR 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 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. 138 - E. Schwarz 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus angusticornis This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Parmularius angusticornis. No
F. 3015 978 CRA 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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 No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
068/5854 979 CRA 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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 No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
OVPP-Tragelaphus 2 122 6 - FLK NN CRA, HOR 1960 104 - Unknown I middle 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Other specimens are present (Leakey, 1971) but are not described. The cranium and horn cones were found near the base of Bed 2. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros maryanus Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus. No
OLDUVAI 1955 BK II East 8067 49 - BK E CRA 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Packed in National Museum in Nairobi, Kenya in box 188 or 189 labeled "Cercopithecidae" for transport to National Museum of History, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Calvarium with right and left zygomatics broken off. Root etching. Needs preparation. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No