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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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978 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
COP-12-48 9633 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Middle Below Tuff 1E. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/21 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-411 9782 SCP-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle 3 meters above Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Aves 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
OVPP-494 9870 HOR, CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Middle -- Partial cranium with two horn cores. Pieces A-K. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/27 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae 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 Additional pieces from NMK unpublished. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Zinjanthropus boisei Holotype.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
OVPP-Clarias 28 2780 5 - FLK NRCR-f, PCG-f, VER-f, R/L-ARTC, L-DNTY, URHL, R/L-PAL, R/L-SPINE 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=7. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
G. 309 2786 5 - FLK NRCR-f, ETHM, SOCC 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. At least 7 individuals are represented. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias No
OVPP-Clarias 29 2787 5 - FLK NRCR, R-DNTY, R-PTER 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias The authors don;t explicitly state that these specimens are of the genus Clarias, but mention it is similar to C. mossambicus. No
OVPP-Clarias 30 2788 5 - FLK FRO, SOCC, SPHT, R-PTRC, L-ETHM 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. It is unclear how many individuals are represented by these specimens. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. 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-Muridae 1 35 5 - FLK P, M, I, C, MAN, MAX 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several unidentified murids 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
G. 356 102 5 - FLK MAN, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-C, L/R-I 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 23. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Promesochoerus mukiri Holotype No
OLD-538 12705 12 - CK C 114 - Natural History Museum UK IV S -- OLD-538; CK IV S Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OLD-1417 13136 22 - SC CAL 114 - Natural History Museum UK II S -- OLD-1417; "OLDY SC II S 9.V. 35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae No
OLD-1419 13137 27 - MNK CAL 114 - Natural History Museum UK II or IV S -- OLD-1419; "OLDOWAY MNK S IV OR II" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae No
OLD-1423 13138 5 - FLK CAL 114 - Natural History Museum UK II S -- OLD-1423; "OLDY FLK II S 2.VII.35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae No
OLD-1894 13220 CAR or TAR 114 - Natural History Museum UK II S -- OLD-1894; podial; "OLDY KC IIS 7.5.35" Unknown Mammalia No
OVPP-Clarias 11 2460 6 - FLK NN SKULL-f, PCG-f, VER, OPER, IOPL, EPHL, SPINE, RAY 1960 104 - Unknown I Scree Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=18. Multiple of each element is represented; authors do not specify numbers for each element. It is unclear which specimens belong together. 151 - Greenwood and Todd No Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OLD-973 11837 C 114 - Natural History Museum UK Bed I Surface -- OLD-973 Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Suidae Yes
OLD-1496 12224 CAL 114 - Natural History Museum UK Bed IV Surface -- OLD-1496 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OH 83 13062 17 - PLK 323 - 23 NRCR 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania Ndutu Upper Reiner, W. B., Masao, F., Sholts, S. B., Songita, A. V., Stanistreet, I., Stollhofen, H., … & Hlusko, L. J. (2017). OH 83: A new early modern human fossil cranium from the Ndutu beds of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. American journal of physical anthropology, 164(3), 533-545. 292 - Proyecto Olduvai Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
COP-12-99 9683 MTC 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Upper -- Fifth metacarpal. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/22 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae No
COP-12-122 9706 MAN-f, L/R-I, L/R-C-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Upper -- Mandibular symphysis with left and right I1 and left I2 erupting, left and right canine roots present and alveolus for left P1. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/23 254 - COP Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
COP-12-130 9714 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Upper -- Large. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/23 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla No
OVPP-381 9752 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1E. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Lagomorpha No
OVPP-387 9758 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1E. -- Immature. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla No
OVPP-398 9769 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Upper -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-408 9779 COR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-477 9848 CRA 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Upper -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/26 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-485 9856 SCP-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/26 253 - OVPP No Aves No
10 736 10180 7 - FLK North R-COR I Upper Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré C. 1982. Fossil Anhingas (Aves: Anhingidae) from early man sites of Hadar and Omo (Ethiopia) and Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Geobios 15: 505-515 Right coracoid, almost complete expect for sternocoracoidal process and tip of procoracoid process. "Place of conservation of material : The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to their countries of origin. The serial numbers such as 2780 are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai birds, and the data are kept at the University of Florida, Gainesville" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982:510). Specimen number does not match specimen pictured. It is possibly that there is a typo that erroneously listed the specimen pictured in figures 5 and 6. Figure description: "Right coracoid, 10 737, Lower Pleistocene, Frida Leakey Horongo, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. (5) anterior view. (6) posterior view" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982). 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Aves Suliformes Anhingidae Anhinga hadarensis No
OH 3 3719 10 - BK 280 - 94 d-C , L-d-M 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Upper Upper part of BK channel which cuts into Tuff IID Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. In the first publication of these specimens (Leakey, LSB, 1958), Leakey described the teeth as a deciduous lower canine and a left deciduous upper M2. "This view was not shared by Robinson, von Koenigswald and others, who preferred to regard it as either a permanent or a deciduous upper molar of an australopithecine character" (Leakey, MD, 1970:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus Referred to as species boisei in Tobias (Olduvai Gorge volume IV, 1991). No
OVPP-94 7772 R/L-HOR, R/L-FRLT, CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Claystone just below Tuff 1E. -- Partial skull with right and left frontlets and horn cores. Needs preparation. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-338 8016 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper 3 meters below Tuff 1F. -- canine. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OVPP-Muridae 4 40 7 - FLK North P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens of unidentified murids are present. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae The author is unsure of the taxonomy. No
OVPP-Mungos 2 80 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M, R-C, R-I 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Yes Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Mungos sp. No
6084 104 7 - FLK North C 104 - Unknown I upper 1 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Two upper canines presumed to be female. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Promesochoerus mukiri Paratype 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
FLK N I 335 108 7 - FLK North R-MAN , R-P , R-M , R-C 1960 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Specimen consists of a right mandible that is missing incisors. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Tetraconodontinae Notochoerus euilus Holotype. At the time of publication, it was considered along with FLK N I 441 to be the holotype of N. eulius. No