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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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410 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 13 3867 5 - FLK MAX-f, (n=12), M, (n=24) I Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Maxilla fragments have M2 and M3. Author states that specimens come from FLKI, FLKNNI layers K, L2, L3, FLKNI layers M1-M6 but does not specify which specimen came from where. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri No
OVPP-Otomys 14 3868 5 - FLK MAX-f, (n=9), M, (n=9) I Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Maxilla fragments have M1. Author states that specimens come from FLKI, FLKNNI layers K, L2, L3, FLKNI layers M1-M6 but does not specify which specimen came from where. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri No
OVPP-Otomys 15 3869 5 - FLK MAX-f, (n=22), M, (n=22) I Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Maxilla fragments have M2. Author states that specimens come from FLKI, FLKNNI layers K, L2, L3, FLKNI layers M1-M6 but does not specify which specimen came from where. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri No
OVPP-Otomys 16 3870 5 - FLK MAX-f, (n=5) I Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Maxilla fragments have M3. Author states that specimens come from FLKI, FLKNNI layers K, L2, L3, FLKNI layers M1-M6 but does not specify which specimen came from where. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri No
OVPP-Otomys 20 3967 5 - FLK MAN-f, (n=185), M, (n=187), MAX-f, (n=80) I K,1,2,3; M1-6 Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Mandible assemblage consists of 41 with M/123, 78 with M/12, 4 with M/23, 61 with M/1, 1 with M/2. Molar assemblage consists of 62 M/1, 28 M1/, 26 M2/ and 71 M3/. Maxilla assemblage consists of 16 with M123/, 13 with M12/, 12 with M23/, 22 with M2/, 5 with M3/. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys 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 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 13 3728 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" MAN , MAX , CRA-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle IIB 5 feet above chert horizon Paratpye. "This consists of a sub-adult skull, probably female, with the third molars coming into wear. It is represented by the greater part of the mandible, including the complete dentition, although the crowns of the incisors are damaged and the left ascending ram us is not preserved; the greater part of the maxillae, represented by two fragments both lacking the anterior portions; the greater part of the occipital; the right parietal and temporal; parts of the left parietal and temporal; together with a few frontal fragments and approximately fifty additional pieces which it has not been possible to fit together" (Leakey MD, 1971:231). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 5 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype No
OH 65 3780 82 - 64 MAX , TOOTH 1995 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania I Middle/Upper Blumenschine, R. J., Peters, C. R., Masao, F. T., et al. 2003. Late Pliocene Homo and Hominid Land Use from Western Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Science 299, 1217-1221. Author describes specimen as "complete maxilla with all teeth and lower face of adult". Specimen is pictured in images 1-11. (Images from R. Clarke 2011). Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Large habilis No
OVPP-Hippopotamus 1 112 CRA, MAX, MAN 104 - Unknown I, II, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author mentions several specimens from beds 1, 2, and 4. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops No
OVPP-336 8014 R-MAX-f, R-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper 2 meters below Tuff 1F. -- Right maxillary fragment with M1-M3. Needs significant preparation. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae No
OVPP-L-185 8326 MAX-f, M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-88-247-1-S. Box #: OLD 88 1-S. 158 - W. Reiner 2012/07/01 Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae No
OVPP-L-202 8351 L-MAX-f, P, M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-3?-??-8. Box #: OLD 86. Box label: Teeth. 158 - W. Reiner 2012/07/01 Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae No
OVPP-663 10036 MAX-f, M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sands 8m below carbonate that overlies Tuff IA. (Just below Tuff IA.) -- Maxilla with 3 molars. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/03 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Sivatheriinae Sivatherium No
OLD-814 12910 MAX-f, TOOTH 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-814; drawer 1; MAX-f with teeth Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae No
OVPP-Erinaceus 94 1944 7 - FLK North MAX-f, P, M 104 - Unknown I upper 3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Lipotyphya Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi Order has more recently been determined as Insectivora No
OVPP-Erinaceus 2 1945 7 - FLK North MAX-f, P 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 3 1946 7 - FLK North MAX-f, P 104 - Unknown I upper 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 4 1947 7 - FLK North MAX-f, C, P 104 - Unknown I upper 4 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OLD-402 12584 MAX-f, M 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-402 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-403 12585 MAX-f, M 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-403 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-570 12729 MAX-f, M (3), P 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-570; MAX-f with M1, M2, M3, and P; possibly associated fragment found in drawer Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-586 12737 R-MAX-f, M 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-586; R-MAX-f with M3 and roots of other molars and teeth Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-589 12740 R-MAX-f, M, d-M 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-589; R-MAX-f with M1 and d-M4 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-592 12742 MAX-f, M (2) 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-592 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-594 12744 R-MAX-f, M (2) 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-594 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-682 12798 MAX-F, TOOTH 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-682; MAN-f or MAX-f with teeth Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-788 12889 313 - GRK M, MAX-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-788; "Oldoway GRK II 15/7/35" Unknown M with adhering MAX-f Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-803 12900 MAX-f, M 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-803; fragment in box in photo belongs to OLD-815 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-808 12905 M, MAX-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-808 Unknown molar with adhering max-f Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-815 12911 M, MAX 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-815 Unknown upper molar with adhering maxilla Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD-865 12943 MAX-f, M (2) 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-865; MAX-f with 2 M (probably M1 and M2); molars very worn Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae No
OLD 160 ?F Ha S 194111 8047 MAX, R/L-M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- 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. Specimen label reads 'OLD160 ?F Ha S194111'. Label is unclear. Maxilla with right M2-M3 and left M1-M3. 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD/69 MRC S.132 8048 39 - MRC R-MAX, ZYG-f, P, M, C 1969 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 reads "Simopithecus - Parts of maxilla and skull. (total of 43 frags.) MRC Bed 4 (S. 116, 126 & 132)." Specimen from same individual as S. 123, which is labeled "MRC IV surface S. 123". 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLD 68/S.9 opp. S.C. IV S ? IV. C KNM 2.4.3 8066 22 - SC CRA-f, R-ZYG-f, L/R-MAX, R/L-M, R/L-P, R/L-C-f 1968 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. Partial cranium: Left and right maxillae and right zygomatic fragment present. Right and left M1-3, P 3-4, and canines present. Crown of left canine broken off. Only root of right canine is preserved. Incisors not preserved. Left M3 crown broken off. Buccal side of left M2 crown broken off. Distal portion of buccal side of left M1 crown broken off. Needs preparation. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 69/S. 133 DC 8071 30 - DC MAX, ZYG, R/L-I, L-C, R/L-P, R/L-M 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Maxilla with left I2-M3, left I1 is absent. Right I1-2 present. Roots of right P3-4, M1-2 present, some partially so. Right palatine is almost complete. Fragments of right and left zygomatics present, left zygomatic includes arch. Card in bag with specimen does not match specimen. 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. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 69/S.133 DC II 8073 30 - DC MAX, TOOTH-f, CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Maxilla with tooth fragments and partial cranium. Enclosed card states "Glamour Boy". Very fragmentary, fragments very small. Needs preparation. Fragments of this specimen (a maxilla with M3) in bag with OLD 69/S.89 SHKE (cranium). 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
S.89 8080 CRA-f, MAX-f, R-P, R-M, OCC-f, UK 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Cigar box with cranial and maxilla fragments labeled |A.1-21; KNM-B 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98". Fragments in cigar box probably from same individual as OLD69/S.89. Many fragments in bags (unidentified) and one small plastic box appear to be sieving fragments; note with OLD69/S.89 states "sieving frags. in 81I/K". Cranial fragments in cigar box include maxillary fragments, one fragment with RM3, one fragment with RP3-4 and M1. Buccal side of RP4 crown missing (broken off) and mesiobuccal portion of RM1 not present (broken off). Occipital fragments also in cigar box. Needs preparation. Probably same specimen as OLD69/S.89 but in different bag. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 61/5170 OKIB + SCREE 8087 24 - DK L-MAX-f, P, M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Fragment of left maxilla with PM 4 and M1-3. Pleistocene. 2012/07/26 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No