Kenya lies in East Africa, with the Indian ocean as one of its borders. A country rich in game, it has several nature reserves, including the Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks.
The Olduvai gorge, where the Leakeys did much of their work, runs through this country, making it valuable to the story of prehistoric man.
Olduvai gorge:
Excavations
in this gorge started in 1911 when Proffessor Kattwinkil, a German
entomologist fell into it. Having survived the fall, the scientist noticed
that there were a remarkable number of fossils on the exposed rock face. The
gorge, called Olduvai by the Masai, contained fossils that pushed back the
history of man back by 2 million years. (See also Tanzania)
Species:
Australopithecus afarensis
Age:
4,0 million years old
Description:
The left humerus
Who:
Bryan Patterson
When:
1965
Kanapoi:
| Species:
Australopithecus afarensis Age: 4 million years old Description: The lower jaw with all the teeth Who: Peter Nzube and Leakey When: 1994 and 1995 |
| Species:
Australopithecus afarensis Age: 4 million years old Description: The Tibia was found, providing the oldest known evidence of bipedalism Who: Kamoya Kimeu When: 1994 |
Lake Turkana:
Species:
Australopithecus boisei
Age:
1,7 million years old
Description:
A complete cranium, with
a brain capacity of 510cc, lacking teeth
Who:
Richard Leakey
When:
1969
Species:
Australopithecus boisei
Age:
1,7 million years old
Description:
A cranium with a brain
capacity of 550cc
Who:
Richard Leakey
When:
1970
"Black Skull"
Species:
Australopithecus aethiopidicus
(debatable)
Age:
2,5 million years old
Description:
An almost complete cranium
with a brain capacity of 410cc, which is surprisingly small for this species.
Who:
Alan Walker
When:
1985
Koobi Fora:
Species:
Homo habilis (debatable)
Age:
1,85 million years old
Description:
Heavily built cranium with
a brain capacity of 600cc, with many teeth intact
Who:
Paul Abell
When:
1973
Species:
Homo habilis
Age:
1,9 million years old
Description:
A cranium with a brain
capacity of 750cc was found, which is unusually large
Who:
Bernard Ngeneo
When:
1972
Species:
Homo habilis (debatable)
Age:
1,8 - 1,9 million years
old
Description:
It is similar to a H. habilis
but, smaller than normal
Who:
Komoya Kimeu
When:
1973
Species:
Homo erectus
Age:
1,7 million years old
Description:
An almost complete cranium
with a brain capacity of 850cc
Who:
Bernard Ngeneo
When:
1975
Nariokotome:
"Turkana Boy"
Species:
Homo erectus
Age:
1,6 million years old
Description:
An almost complete skeleton
of an 11 or 12 year old boy. The only major missing bones were from
the hands and feet.
Who:
Komoyo Kimeu
When:
1982