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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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1334 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
1734 7653 7 - FLK North L-HUM-f I Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Arctoidea Mustelidae Lutrinae Aonychini Aonyx sp. No
M 103956 12901 L-HOR 1947 114 - Natural History Museum UK I-II -- OLD-804; left horncore base; O & B 1947 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Behemota Bovoidea Bovidae Connochaetes or Megalotragus Unknown
OLD-1189 13100 L-HUM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1189; distal L-HUM-f; Drawer says "Alcelaphini humeri"; "IS" or "II"? Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Behemota Bovoidea Bovidae cf. Alcelaphini Unknown
MB.Ma.13715 9225 L-CAR, L-MTC, L-PHX, L-SES 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Left manus. Mfn room number: 0026. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.13716 9226 L-TAR, L-MTT, L-PHX, L-SES 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Left pes. Reck field number: XVII 1384. Mfn room number: 0026. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.13714 9229 L-MAN, L-M 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Reck field number: XVII 1384. Mfn room number: 0026. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.45804 9242 L-PVG 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Reck field number: XIX 1477-78. Mfn room number: 0026. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.16533 9245 L-HUM 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Reck field number: XXII 1685. Mfn room number: 0026. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OLD-519 12356 11 - HWK L-MTC-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-519; left metacarpal proximal end fragment Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Behemota Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki Yes
OLD-37 12572 RUL-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-37; radio-ulna fragment Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-38 12575 RUL-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-38; radio-ulna fragment Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
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-56 12719 L-FEM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-56; proximal L-FEM-f Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OVPP-Protocyon 1 87 6 - FLK NN MAN, RAM-f, L-P, L-M 104 - Unknown I middle 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 133 - L. Werdelin 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Prototocyon recki No
Old. BK II Ex. 1953/117 1310 10 - BK L-MAN-f, L-M 104 - Unknown II Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
M. 14953 1311 10 - BK L-MAN, L-M, L-P 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Red Bed Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) This specimen is pictured in plate 15c and 15d. 146 - C. J. Jolly Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
M. 14681 1313 L-MAX-f, L-M, L-P 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Hopwood, A. 1934. New fossil mammals from Olduvai, Tanganyika territory. Annals of the Magazine of Natural History. 10: 546-550. This specimen is pictured in plate 14b and 14c (Jolly, 1972). 293 - A.T. Hopwood Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus leakeyi This specimen was reclassified as aff. Theropithecus by Jolly (1972). No
1384 5K IIE 1314 L-HUM 104 - Unknown II Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
BK II 118 1315 10 - BK L-HUM-f 104 - Unknown II Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
Is 1941 1317 L-RAD-f 104 - Unknown Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
BK II 1953/54 1318 10 - BK L-RAD-f 1953 II Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
'Olduvai' 1340 L-MAN-f 104 - Unknown IV Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
Unknown Simopithecus 1341 L-MAN-f, L-M 104 - Unknown IV Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
Old. 1952 GRCS 694 1342 64 - GRC S L-MAN-f, M 1952 104 - Unknown IV Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) 146 - C. J. Jolly Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
COP-12-4 9589 82 - 64 L-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower -- Upper left M3 with maxillary bone adhering. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/21 254 - COP Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
COP-12-50 9635 L-I 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I -- Left mandibular incisor. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/21 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
COP-12-116 9700 L-M-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II -- Half of mandibular left molar. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/23 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-555 9929 L-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1m below Tuff IA. Sands. -- Left maxillary M3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Papio No
OVPP-737 10110 L-MAX-f, L-P, L-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Eroded onto lag just below Tuff IA. -- Left maxilla fragment with P4-M3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/07 253 - 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
068/6514 3711 34 - MLK CRA, MAX-f, R/L-P, R/L-M 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey, M. G., and Leakey, R. E. F. 1973. Pleistocene Colobinae from East Africa. Leakey, L. S. B., Savage, R. J. G., Coryndon, S. C., eds. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 3. London: Academic Pr This specimen is pictured in plate 3. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Colobinae Colobini Cercopithecoides kimeui Holotype 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
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 7 3722 6 - FLK NN 283 - 45 MAN , L-PAR , R-PAR-f , M , OCC-f , L/R-TEM-f , PHX , CAR 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 On surface of clay immediately overlying Tuff IB. 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. Holotype. "Jonny's Child". Juvenile. Mandible with partial dentition and unerupted R/L-M3, almost complete left parietal and fragments of right parietal, left and right petrous portions (temporal) , "sundry small skull fragments ... [and] twenty-one bones of the hand, including the trapezium, scaphoid and a number of phalanges" (Leakey, MD, 1971:228). "One upper molar, a terminal phalanx, and a broken capitate bone, found on the surface, probably also belong to this individual" (:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Holotype No
OH 11 3726 24 - DK 285 - 13 PAL , L-MAX-f , TOOTH-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Ndutu Lower Found in stream bed at bottom of gully near DK excavations. See curatorial notes for details. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Left half of palate and maxillary arch, crowns of teeth not preserved. "It is thus impossible to assign to any stratigraphic level, although the condition of the bone, which bears a pinkish tinge, is similar to that seen in fossil bones from a conglomerate at the head of the DK gully belonging to the lower Ndutu Beds" (Leakey MD, 1971:230). 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 sp. 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
OH 20 3735 11 - HWK 289 - 44 L-FEM-f 1959 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II or I Lowermost if Bed II, upper if Bed I Surface Day, MH. 1969. Femoral Fragment of a Robust Australopithecine from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Nature. 22: 230-233. Proximal end of large left femur missing head, greater and lesser trochanters damaged. Either Lower Bed II or Upper Bed I (Leakey MD, 1971:233). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus cf. boisei No
OH 21 3736 7 - FLK North L-M 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Upper Surface Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Upper left M1, small and unworn. 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
OH 23 3738 5 - FLK L-MAN-f , L-P , L-M , 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV/Masek Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Left mandible fragment with P4-M2. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Bed IV in Leakey (1971), referred to as having derived from Masek Beds in other publications (e.g., Millard, 2009). 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus No
OH 25 3740 268 - 54 L-PAR-f 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV a Surface Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Left parietal fragment ca. asterion. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Juvenile. No