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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
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 Additional pieces from NMK unpublished. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Zinjanthropus boisei Holotype.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
OVPP-Muridae 2 37 6 - FLK NN P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I middle 1 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Muridae 3 38 6 - FLK NN P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens of unidentified murids. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
263/1959 42 6 - FLK NN L/R-MAN, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-I, L/R-C 1959 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I middle 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. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra No
OVPP-257 7935 LIMB-f, VER-f, PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle -- Long bone (A), Vertebral body (B), and Phalanx (C) 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Reptilia No
OVPP-274 7952 32 - MNK Main LIMB-f, PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle Found right beside OGAP trench at MNK Main excavation. -- Distal limb and phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP Yes Y Aves No
M. 14683 10383 Two upper tusks, probably of the same individual. 1934 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I lower part, Middle Pleistocene Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. British Museum Palaeontology Department 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Paratypes. Originally classified as Koiropotamus majus (Hopwood, 1934). Reclassified as Potamochoerus majus (Leakey, 1942). Yes
COP-12-13 9598 I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/21 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-374 9745 TIB-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower -- Proximal tibia. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-406 9777 PHX, LIMB 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower On top of Tuff 1F. -- Phalanx and long bone. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Reptilia No
OVPP-499 9869 SKULL, AXIS, CER, PHX, HUM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2 meters below Tuff 1A. -- Skull with associated post-crania. Pieces labeled A through P. A = cranium, B= right mandible fragment, C= left mandible fragment, D= right mandibular symphysis through P4, E= left mandibular symphysis, F-J= teeth, K= axis, L-M+ cervical vertebrae, O= intermediate phalanx, P= distal humerus. Two additional bags of bones and bone fragments that were found at OVPP-499 locality with carnivore breakage and tooth marks. 157 - L. Hlusko 253 - OVPP Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OVPP-571 9944 TIB, HUM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sandstone 15m above ignimbrite, below Tuff IA but not sure how far below. -- Immature. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-573 9946 MAN, R-P, L/R-M, L/R-I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sandstone 15m above ignimbrite, below Tuff IA but not sure how far below. -- Almost complete mandible with right P2-M3, left M1-2, and LI3-RI3. Three pieces- A, B, and C. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Hippotragini No
OVPP-619 9992 I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Surface 4m below Tuff IB; sandy calcareous clays. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/02 253 - OVPP No Suidae No
OVPP-626 9999 P-f, M-f, L/R-I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Surface 6m below Tuff IB; sandy calcareous clays. -- Fragment of mandibular P4, fragment of molar, and right mandibular I2, right maxillary I1. Four teeth- labeled A, B, C, and D. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/02 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-643 10016 C-f, I-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Surface 6m below Tuff IB; sandy calcareous clays. -- Probably not from a single individual. Upper and lower canine and incisor. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/02 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-742 10115 L-I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Tuff 1A. -- Left maxillary I2. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/07 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-Elephas 2 91 8 - MK MAN, C, M, I, P 104 - Unknown I lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several other specimens found at this site in Bed I but probably fell from Bed II. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Specimen was "embedded in matrix." Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas africanavus 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-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
OH 34 3749 76 - JK W FEM , TIB-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III/ IV for Bed IV level = a Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Femur described as "slender" (Leakey MD, 1971) and shaft of tibia. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo sp. Slender bone No
OH 80 3796 10 - BK R/L-P , L-M , R/L-I , L-HUM-f , R-RAD-f , R-FEM-f , TIB-f 2009 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II 4 Upper Domínguez-Rodrigo M, et al. 2013. First Partial Skeleton of a 1.34-Million-Year-Old Paranthropus boisei from Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. PLoS ONE 8(12): e80347. Distal portion of a left humerus diaphysis. Partial right radius with head, proximal metaphysis and partial diaphysis. Right partial femur, diaphysis in three refitting pieces. Tibia midshaft fragment assigned to OH 80 based on close "spatial association, comparable anatomical ruggedness and similar state of preservation to the other OH 80 postcranial fossils" (Dominiguez-Rodrigo et al., 2013). 292 - Proyecto Olduvai Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Australopithecus boisei Anatomically modern No
FLK N I 1157 1386 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 6087 1387 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 6183 1388 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 6270 1389 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 6290 1390 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 1818 1391 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
FLK N I 5189 1392 7 - FLK North TIB-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella 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
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
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
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
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
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/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
JK 1258 III/2 8282 40 - JK I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III 2 -- Incisor. Card in bag with specimen states "OLD. Bed III, JK Primate? six teeth, five non -primate one hyaena (lower vert.?) 1254 : RM3 colobine ED 81" Specimen found in bag with JK 1254 71/I, 1257, JK 1259 VI/I, 1256 and JK 1255 VI /3. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
JK 1259 IV/I 8284 40 - JK I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania VI 1 -- Incisor. Card in bag with specimen states "OLD Bed III, JK primate? six teeth, five non primate, one hyaena (lower vert.?) 1256, JK 1258 III/2, JK 1254 71/I and JK 1255 IV/3. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia 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