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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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7924 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
7446 3882 7 - FLK North CRA-f, TOOTH I Zinjanthropus 3 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is the anterior portion of the skull with teeth. Specimen is broken. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris 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
OVPP-717 10090 CRA-f , HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sandy clays 3m below Tuff IA. -- Partial cranium with one horn core. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/07 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae 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 16 3731 72 - FLK Maiko Gully 283 - 45 CRA-f , TOOTH , MAN , 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II base Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Upper and lower dentition, calotte, and > 1500 unidentified fragments due to cattle trampling. Majority of fragments found on surface of Tuff IF, some teeth found in situ, 2 feet above Tuff IF. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Leakey LSB, 1964 refers to this specimen as Homo erectus. Leakey, Tobias, and Napier provisionally assign it to Homo habilis (referred material, not paratype) (1964), and Leakey MD, 1971 refers to it as cf. Australopithecus. Yes
OH 2 3718 27 - MNK 279 - 88 CRA-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III/IV Lowest horizon of Bed IVa. Surface. Found at head of MNK Gully where Beds II and IV are exposed. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Two cranial vault fragments. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Not found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus Similar to OH 9 and OH 12. No
OH 33 3748 6 - FLK NN CRA-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Thin vault fragments. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo Very thin skull No
OH 79 3794 49 - BK E CRA-f 2007 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lower-Middle Surface. OLAPP “Discovered by an Earthwatch project led by F.T. Masao in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and will be described elsewhere.” -R. Clarke (2011)/Earthwatch Weathered. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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
OVPP-Zinjanthropus 10 3920 5 - FLK CRA-f I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey, LSB. 1960. Recent discoveries at Olduvai Gorge. Nature 188:1050-1052. Author describes specimen as "parts of the skull of a second individual," in reference to the first Z. boisei skull found at this site OH 5. 157 - L. Hlusko 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-Python 8 1926 CRA-f 104 - Unknown Rage J. 1973. Fossil snakes from Olduvai, Tanzania. In: Fossil vertebrates of Africa, vol. 3:1-6. Pieces of cranium are mentioned but the number of individuals represented is unclear. 149 - J. C. Rage Unknown Reptilia Squamata Boidae Python sebae No
OVPP-L-105 4073 CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
Pel 3 5743 CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This is a piece of a skull. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
Pel 4 5744 CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This is a piece of a skull. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
OVPP-210 7888 CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle -- Right parietal? 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-606 9979 CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2 meters below Tuff IA. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae 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-703 11900 CRA-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-703; found in hippopotamus drawer Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Hippopotamidae Yes
JK2 III A. 78 872 46 - JK 2 CRA-f 1962 104 - Unknown III 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 braincase of this specimen was separated from the horn core. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkelli No
Pel 3 1676 CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This is a piece of a skull. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
Pel 4 1677 CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This is a piece of a skull. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
BK II 1955.63 1278 10 - BK CRA-f 1955 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 Antilopinae Antilopini 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
178/1960 173 7 - FLK North CRA-f 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This is from a juvenile or female. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens No
MRC IV. SURF S. 123 8049 39 - MRC CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV Surface -- 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. Enclosed card labeled " SIMOPITH.-part of Maxilla and skull (total of 43 frags. MRC Bed 4(S,116,126 and 132)". Card in package with S. 132 and 194 long with this specimen 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLD 63/5510 DK I 8093 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/5509 DK I 8094 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/5513 DK I 8095 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/5515 DK I 8096 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/5512 DK I 8097 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/5514 DK I 8098 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Strip II -- Cranial fragment. Label in bag states "OLD 63/5509-5515" but 5511 is missing. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63 DK I II L/2 5679-5508 8100 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I, II 2 -- Cranial fragment. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
5168/404 DK I B/2 8123 24 - DK CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I B/2? -- Cranial fragment. Pleistocene. Specimen in bag with 5169/KNM 2.9?7 DK I B/2. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
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
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
1931 II 1294 8535 CRA-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Ca 20 cranial frags w unerupted upper LM1 and LM2. 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
MB.Ma.29310 9208 CRA-f 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Reck field number: VIII 782. Mfn room number: 2251. Cabinet: P0448-6. Drawer: 71. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. 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
OLD-1896 13221 CRA-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1896 Unknown unknown Yes