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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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1427 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
OVPP-Otomys 3 437 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys kempi No
OVPP-Gerbillus 2 438 7 - FLK North 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbilinae Gerbilini Gerbillus sp No
OVPP-Muridae 7 445 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Stylohipparion 11 534 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Stylohipparion sp. No
OVPP-Ceratotherium 3 536 24 - DK UK 104 - Unknown I lower All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates there are several specimens in the British Museum of Natural History. He also indicates a collection housed by Dr. Kohl-Larson. This specimen number may be changed when the original elements are observed in their respective collections. The author suggests that previously published accounts of this species may have actually been from deeper/older deposits such as Bed 5. There are no specifics of what types of elements have been preserved but several are implied. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotinae Rhinocerotini Ceratotherium simum No
OVPP-Ceratotherium 13 547 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates there are several specimens in the British Museum of Natural History. He also indicates a collection housed by Dr. Kohl-Larson. This specimen number may be changed when the original elements are observed in their respective collections. The author suggests that previously published accounts of this species may have actually been from deeper/older deposits such as Bed 5. There are no specifics of what types of elements have been preserved but several are implied. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotinae Rhinocerotini Ceratotherium simum No
1315/1960 167 7 - FLK North L/R-HOR-f 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper All levels Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 73. 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 Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens No
Kar K II 1962.068/5811 760 42 - Kar. K R/L-HOR, CRA 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II upper basal gravels 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 2. The authors indicate other horn cores are found from Bed II to undivided Beds III-IV and teeth occur from Beds I-IV. 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. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus Holotype No
FLK N II 1962.067/4998 1091 7 - FLK North L-HOR-f 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II base of Bed 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. 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. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Beatragus antiquus No
M. 21430 174 21 - HWK Castle SKULL, R-HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) IV Base of Bed IV. Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 75 and 76. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius rugosus Holotype No
OVPP-Chelonia 7 695 29 - FC W UK 104 - Unknown II middle both levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Suidae 3 581 29 - FC W UK 104 - Unknown II middle Both levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Indet. No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 5 454 27 - MNK UK 104 - Unknown II middle both sites Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus sp. No
OVPP-Elephas 12 503 27 - MNK UK 104 - Unknown II middle both sites Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki The author says this is the "evolved form" of E. recki. No
OVPP-Equus 9 516 27 - MNK UK 104 - Unknown II middle both sites Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Equini Equus oldowayensis No
OVPP-Ceratotherium 8 542 27 - MNK UK 104 - Unknown II middle both sites Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates there are several specimens in the British Museum of Natural History. He also indicates a collection housed by Dr. Kohl-Larson. This specimen number may be changed when the original elements are observed in their respective collections. The author suggests that previously published accounts of this species may have actually been from deeper/older deposits such as Bed 5. There are no specifics of what types of elements have been preserved but several are implied. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotinae Rhinocerotini Ceratotherium simum No
OVPP-Libytherium 11 615 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper Channel Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Libytherium olduvaiensis No
OLD 63/067/5512 BK II E SAND 8120 49 - BK E FEM 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Eastern sands -- Femur shaft (right?). Large. Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-Pelorovis 89 1763 10 - BK R-FEM-f 1953 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Extension Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 "Extension" is referred to in the literature as to the location of the fossil. It may be extension of archaeological locality, level, or stratigraphic horizon. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
OVPP-Crocodylus 9 348 26 - FC UK 104 - Unknown II middle floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Crocodilia Crocodylidae Crocodylus niloticus No
OVPP-Crocodylus 13 352 26 - FC UK 104 - Unknown II middle floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Crocodilia Crocodylidae Crocodylus sp. nov. No
OVPP-Crocodylus 20 359 26 - FC UK 104 - Unknown II middle floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Crocodilia Crocodylidae Crocodylus sp. No
OVPP-Elephas 14 505 29 - FC W UK 104 - Unknown II middle floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki The author says this is the "evolved form" of E. recki. 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
MLK 068/6514 3803 34 - MLK CRA-f, P, M, (n=3) II Lower From horizon above Lemuta Member of Lowed Bed II Leakey MG and Leakey REF. 1973. New large Pleistocene colobinae (Mammalia, Primates) from East Africa. Fossil Vertebrates of Africa Vol. 3, 121-38. Similar to colobine specimen KNM-ER 398 in cranial dimensions. Maxillary dentition represented by P4, M2, M1, M2. Crania is represented by multiple fragments, and some fragments are missing. Large canine socket of right maxilla indicates specimen is male. Specimen is pictured in Plate 3. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Either Cercopithecinae or Cynopithencinae. Author states that the cranium is typical of Cercopithecinae but that the dental morphology resembles Cynopithecinae. No
MLK 068/6514 7564 34 - MLK CRA-f, P, M, (n=3) II Lower From horizon above Lemuta Member of Lowed Bed II Leakey MG and Leakey REF. 1973. New large Pleistocene colobinae (Mammalia, Primates) from East Africa. Fossil Vertebrates of Africa Vol. 3, 121-38. Similar to colobine specimen KNM-ER 398 in cranial dimensions. Maxillary dentition represented by P4, M2, M1, M2. Crania is represented by multiple fragments, and some fragments are missing. Large canine socket of right maxilla indicates specimen is male. Specimen is pictured in Plate 3. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Either Cercopithecinae or Cynopithencinae. Author states that the cranium is typical of Cercopithecinae but that the dental morphology resembles Cynopithecinae. No
OLD G/13 Simopith? 8203 72 - FLK Maiko Gully R-FEM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I G/13? -- Long bone shaft fragment (right femur shaft?) Card in bag with specimen states "LSB Leakey `60 Field NO: 067/3684 FLK I OLD 1960 G/13 Pleistocene". 2012/08/02 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OH 39 3754 37 - HWK EE TOOTH , d-TOOTH 1972 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Upper In fallen block from Upper Bed I. 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. Upper dentitions: Partial permanent and deciduous dentition. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis No
OLD 1963/105 DK I 8088 24 - DK L-MAX-f, M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I L/Z strip -- Fragment of left maxilla with second molar. Specimen may be same individual as KNM 2.27. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 63/181 DK I KNM 2-037 L/2 8132 24 - DK HUM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 L/Z strip I -- Distal end of humerus (right?). Pleistocene. Card with specimen states "L/Z Strip I." 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
2870 10181 6 - FLK NN R-COR-f I Lower Layer 4 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 Upper half of right coracoid lacking head. "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 possible that there is a typo that erroneously lists the specimen pictured in figures 5 and 6. Figure description: "Upper half of right coracoid, 2870, Lower Pleistocene, Frida Leakey Korongo, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, posterior view." (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982). 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Aves Suliformes Anhingidae Anhinga hadarensis No
OVPP-Giraffa 11 601 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper Lower floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Giraffinae Giraffini Giraffa sp. No
OVPP-Elephas 16 507 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper lower floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki The author says this is the "evolved form" of E. recki. No
OVPP-Tapinochoerus 6 572 23 - TK UK 104 - Unknown II upper lower floor Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Phacochoerini Tapinochoerus sp. No
OVPP-Mesochoerus 1 252 23 - TK M 104 - Unknown II Lower layers Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus heseloni 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
068/6641 FLK I OPP. ZINJ 8200 72 - FLK Maiko Gully R-HUM 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Opposite Zinj. -- Distal end of right humerus. Pleistocene. Card in bag with specimen states "Olduvai". 2012/08/02 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD 62/068/6643 FLK I opp. Zinj site 8131 72 - FLK Maiko Gully HUM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Opposite Zinj. site. -- Distal 1/3 of humerus. Articular surfaces not preserved. Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae 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
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