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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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7924 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
1931 II 33 8594 L/R-MAN, L/R-M, L/R-P 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Hopwood, 1937 p.117, pl. 7. Full cheek teeth both sides. Reck Field No.: VIII 353. Holotype specimen. Original museum label exists but specimen missing: probably destroyed in WWII. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Equini Equus oldowayen Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
M. 14508 183 HOR 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Gentry (1966) suggests this specimen is "probably" from the surface. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella praecursor This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Antidorcas recki. No
M. 14512 1199 R-HOR 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I 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. Gentry (1966) suggests this was "probably a surface find." 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki No
OVPP-Tragelaphus 4 616 24 - DK MAX, MAN 104 - Unknown II lower Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Gentry and Gentry (1978) indicate more specimens have been found at this site. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros maryanus This specimen was reclassified as Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
MNK II 1963.104 + 106 645 32 - MNK Main SKULL, SKEL-f 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Gentry and Gentry (1978a) assigned this specimen to the species level (kob). They give the specimen numbers as follows: skull: 104, 106 mandibles: 107 (R), 108 (L) Maxilla: 103 (R) Altas: 110 Metacarpal: 105 (R) Ulna: 109 (R) Femur: 101 (R) Tibia: 102 (R) Metatarsal: 100 (R) 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus Gentry and Gentry (1978) assigned this to the species Kobus kob. No
M. 21478 708 R-HOR-f 1947 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I or 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. Gentry mentions this specimen that is found at BMNH at time of publication. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus No
1931 II 1286 8825 L-SCP 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Schwarz E. 1937. Die fossilen Antilopen von Oldoway. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Oldoway-Expedition 1913. Glenoid + blade. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VII 509. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 1281 8824 L-SCP 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Schwarz E. 1937. Die fossilen Antilopen von Oldoway. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Oldoway-Expedition 1913. Glenoid + blade. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VII 659. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 1276 8821 L-SCP 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Schwarz E. 1937. Die fossilen Antilopen von Oldoway. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Oldoway-Expedition 1913. Glenoid + blade. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: XVI 1243. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OH 19 3734 29 - FC W 288 - 89 M-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Middle 15 feet above chert horizon Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Half of a very worn molar. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
OH 54 3769 72 - FLK Maiko Gully M-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface. -- Half of lower M1 or M2. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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
1931 II 605 9035 R-HAM, R-TRQL 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:63. Hamate (HAM) plus triquetral (TRI) conjoined. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 200. Schwarz lists VI 200 under Triquetrum. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-Struthio 8 10153 PVG-f , LUM 1931 114 - Natural History Museum UK I Lowe PR. 1933. On Some Struthious remains:1. Description of some pelvic remains of a large fossil ostrich, Struthio oldawayi, from the L. Pleistocene of Oldaway (Tanganyika Territory). 75(4): 652-8. HOLOTYPE. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Aves Struthioniformes Struthioni Struthionides Struthionidae Struthio Oldawayi 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
OLD 15802 10155 L-COR I Layer 3 Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. HOLOTYPE. "Left coracoid lacking the procoracoid and the external distal angle... Paratypes: The following specimens are from layer 3 of locality FLK NNI and can be attributed to the same individual as the holotype: 15740, premaxillae; 3301, lower part of right coracoid. 15364 and 15473, proximal and distal parts of left femur; 16377, distal part of right femur; 15701, distal part of left tibiotarsus; 15776, left fibula; 16262, proximal part of right tarsometatarsus; 15730, distal part of left tarsometatarsus; 15942, 15946, 16050, 16171, 16174, 16176 to 16180, pedal phalanges. Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:17, 19). Image notes: (Scale = 2 cm) A-B: Left coracoid, holotype, OLD 15802, FLK NNI, layer 3, A anterior face, B posterior face. C: Right tarsometatarsus, proximal part, paratype, OLD 16262, FLK NNI, scree, anterior face. D: Left tarsometatarsus, distal part, paratype, OLD 15730, FLK NNI, layer 3, anterior face. E-F: Left femur, proximal half, paratype, OLD 15364, FLK NNI, layer 2+3, E anterior face, F POSterior face. G-H: Left femur, distal part, paratype, OLD 15473, FLK NNI, layer 3, G anterior face, H posterior face. I: Left tarsometatarsus, almost complete, OLD 11574, FLK NI, layer 1, anterior face. J-K: Left femur, lacking the distal part, OLD 11586, FLK NI, layer 2, J anterior face, K posterior face. Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae 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
M. 17090 10388 A broken fragment of the left side of a mandible with damaged first molar, but with second and third molars intact. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Holotype. Formerly Coryndon Museum No. F. 3666. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus olduvaiensis Yes
MB.Ma.49519 9219 CRA-f 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Holotype. Mfn room number: Outside 2251. Cabinet: Vitrine. Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.29313 9211 SKULL 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Holotype. Reck field number: 737. Mfn room number: 2251. Cabinet: P0448-6. Drawer: 71. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
MB.Ma.29305 9205 CRA 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany Horizont 3 -- Holotype. Reck field number: VIII 781. Mfn room number: 2251. Cabinet: P0448-6. Drawer: 71. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Otocyon recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
? 9220 CRA 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany -- Holotype. Reck field number: XX 1475?. Mfn room number: Outside 2251. Cabinet: Vitrine. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-268 7946 HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle -- Horn Core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-275 7953 HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle South side of MNK Main OGAP excavation. -- Horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-310 7988 HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1 meter above Bed I lavas. Found in old bone pile. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-316 7994 HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1 meter above Bed I lavas. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-320 7998 HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1 meter above Bed I lavas. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-326 8004 HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower Just on top of Tuff 1F. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-327 8005 HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower Just on top of Tuff 1F. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-342 8020 HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower On top of Tuff 1F. -- horn core 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-369 9740 HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower -- Horn core base. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-L-1492 10421 37 - HWK EE Horncore Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OVPP-L-1493 10422 37 - HWK EE Horncore Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OVPP-L-1494 10423 37 - HWK EE Horncore Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OVPP-276 9780 HUM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower On top of Tuff 1F. -- Humeral shaft. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-L-1495 10424 37 - HWK EE Humerus Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OLD 1963/179 BK II Step trench below tuff 8133 10 - BK HUM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Humerus shaft (Right?). Card states "small,straght, and slender". Pleistocene. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD 68/25658 BK II 8116 10 - BK HUM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Pit 6. -- Humerus shaft with part of distal end. Proximal articular end not preserved. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OH 78 3793 10 - BK H-f 2007 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lower-Middle? Surface. OLAPP/Earthwatch”Discovered by an Earthwatch project led by F.T. Masao in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and will be described elsewhere.” -R. Clarke (2011) Humerus shaft, subaerial weathering. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus africanus OH 75-like No
OLD/63 1236 FLK II 8255 5 - FLK HUM 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Humerus. Specimen found in the same bag with "unlabeled specimen Old?" with card labeled "Parts of humerus FLK II 1236" in small box labeled "Parts of Simopithecus humerus FLK II 1236". Probably from same bone. 2012/08/07 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No