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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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2823 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
OLD-1740 13191 19 - SHK PHX-f (2) 114 - Natural History Museum UK II S -- OLD-1740; 1 PHX broken into two pieces, A is proximal end and B is distal end; "OLDY SHK IIS 8.V.35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
OLD-236 12511 PHX-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-236; proximal phalanx fragment Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae No
OVPP-449 9820 PHX-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower On top of Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-648 10021 PHX-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2.5m above Tuff IA. -- Distal phalanx- distal end missing. May be the same individual as OVPP-651 and 652. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/03 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae No
OVPP-179 7857 PHX-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Masek -- Proximal end of a proximal phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
70 8137 PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Distal phalanx. Label on bag states "OLD 1957,1291 Monkey SHK II, 1292 Tooth indet. SHK II ?, 1293 fish spine SHK II. Not all fragments are labeled. In bag with OLD DK II 1363 1957? and MNK II SK with sp. No. 15, also in bag with unlabeled specimens including tooth fragments, phalanges (one intermediate, one distal (70)). Photo shows other specimens found in same bag. 2012/07/30 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD/63/2231 BK II 8184 10 - BK PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Pit 4? -- Proximal end and shaft of phalanx. Card in bag with specimen states "OLD/63 BK II; 2231 Pit 4". Pleistocene. 2012/08/01 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
Specimen not labeled. 8226 90 - DK (?) PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I? 3? Strip 11/10? -- Distal end of middle phalanx. Card in bag with specimen states " OLD 63 DK I L/3 Strip II/10 5349. Cynocephalinae?". Other card in bag with specimen states OLD 1963 DK I Strip II/10 L/3. 5349" and the other card in bag with specimen states "distal end of middle phalange". 2012/08/03 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
DK I I/8 8228 24 - DK PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 8 -- Distal phalanx. Card in bag with specimen states "Old 1963 DK I Strip I/8 L/2, 5794". 2012/08/03 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
MNK II I/1 8239 27 - MNK PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II 1 -- Proximal phalanx. Card in bag with specimen states "Prox phal foot. Monkey". 2012/08/06 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD/63 BK II 212 8240 10 - BK PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Pit 3 -- Phalanx fragment. Pleistocene. Card in bag with specimen states "Pit 3 L.S. Primate?". Pleistocene. 2012/08/06 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
2958 DK I A/2 8247 24 - DK PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2, A? -- Proximal phalanx. Pleistocene. 2012/08/07 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD-1351b 13261 19 - SHK PHX-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-1351b; proximal phalanx fragment, immature Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae No
OLD-1350b 13260 19 - SHK PHX-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-1350b; proximal phalanx fragment Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae No
OVPP-L-1093 10372 22 - SC PHX , UK-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Box: SC. 9 specimens: OLD/71.SC.84, OLD/71.SC.86, OLD/71.SC.684, OLD/71.SC.685, OLD/71.SC.1293, OLD/71.SC.1294, OLD/71.SC.1387, OLD/71.SC.1471, OLD/71.SC.1472 Unknown Mammalia No
OH 8 3723 6 - FLK NN 283 - 45 PHX , CAR , TAR , CLA , AST , CAL , CUNE , CUB , NAV , M-f 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The molar-f was found on the surface and "probably also belongs to OH 8" (Leakey MD, 1971:228). Twelve associated foot bones including astragalus (has carnivore tooth marks (Leakey MD, 1971), calcaneus, cuboid and navicular, cuneiforms 1- 3, proximal ends with shafts, five metatarsals. Proximal ends of one metacarpal and three finger phalanges. One radius shaft. Clavicle with damaged articular ends. Foot articulates "almost perfectly with the OH 35 leg" (Susman, 1983:372). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype No
Specimens not labeled. Found in bag with card written "Original no data OLDUVAI". 8233 PHX, PHX-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Phalanx and phalanx fragment. Specimen not labeled. Specimen found in bag with card states "Original, no data Olduvai". 2012/08/03 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
MW 49/136 6877 PERI-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
OVPP-Geochelone 3 3108 24 - DK PERI-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 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. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
MW 49/136 3110 PERI-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
OVPP-P-28 13304 Pelvix-f, VER-f, PHX, TOOTH -- OLD-60 FLKNI L-3 067-1303 Unknown Yes
OLD-237 12512 PAT-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-237 Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae 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 42 3757 37 - HWK EE P-f 1972 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Upper Surface. Leakey, M.D. 1978. Olduvai fossil hominids:their stratigraphic positions and associations. In: Jolly, CJ, editor. Early hominids of Africa. London:Duckworth. P. 3-16. Broken crown of upper premolar. 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 57 3772 14 - HWK E P-f 1977 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Lower II Surface. -- Lower P3 or P4 crown. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo sp. No
1033/1957 60 P-f 1957 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. No locality information is provided. 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 Felidae Pantherinae Panthera indet. No
OVPP-481 9852 P-f, TOOTH-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper 5 meters below Tuff 1F. -- Maxillary premolar and associated root fragment. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/26 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae 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-P-20 13296 OSS-f -- OLD 1150 II-3. Unknown Bovidae Yes
OVPP-Tilapia 8 2451 24 - DK OPER-f 1962 104 - Unknown I 2 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 Perciformes Cichlidae Pseudocrenilabrinae Tilapini Tilapia No
OVPP-Cichlidae 13 2643 6 - FLK NN OPER-f, VER, SPINE-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 2, 3 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. The specimens are from trench II. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes Cichlidae No
OVPP-Cichlidae 14 2663 6 - FLK NN OPER, VER-f, HMND-f, PTER, SPINE-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 2, 3 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=3. The specimens are from trench II. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes Cichlidae Pseudocrenilabrinae Tilapini Tilapia This specimen is "probably Tilapia." No
Pel 21 1690 OCC-f 1957 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 Both condyles are present. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
Pel 21 5757 OCC-f 1957 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 Both condyles are present. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
MCK II Simo 2 8172 80 - MCK OCC-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Basilar portion of occipital bone (fragment of occipital). In bag with three unlabeled fragments and specimen number 067/5615 MCK II Simo (clavicle fragment) and possible scapula fragment labeled "R". 2 added to specimen designation to differentiate from other "MCK II Simo". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
M 103985 12703 OCC-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-536 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini cf. Alcelaphini Unknown
1931 II 936 8674 OCC-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 1913:60. Occipital at condyles. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VII 797. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. 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
OVPP-Geochelone 4 3109 24 - DK NRL-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 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. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. 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