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FAMOUS FINDS

Though there have been thousands of hominid bones and stone tools found in the Koobi Fora region, four of these have been especially illuminating in our search to understand our origins. The location of these four, along with every other hominid find, is marked by a permanent concrete post bearing the museum accession numbers, standing like a tombstone for another era. These four are:

KNM-ER 1470
KNM-ER 1813
KNM-ER 3733
KNM-ER 406

KNM-ER 406, Australopithecus boisei was discovered by Richard Leakey in 1969 in the Ileret subregion of East Turkana. This find was a complete, intact cranium lacking only the teeth. Estimated age is about 1.7 million years. The brain size is about 510 cc. The discovery of this fossil in the same stratum as ER 3733 (Homo erectus) delivered the coup de grace to the single species hypothesis: the idea that there has never been more than one hominid species at any point in history.

KNM-ER 1813 was discovered by Kamoya Kimeu in 1973. This specimen is similar to 1470, but is much smaller, with a brain size of 510 cc. Estimated age is 1.8-1.9 million years. Apart from its extremely small size, ER 1813 is quite similar to a number of Homo erectus and Homo habilis skulls. It is surprisingly modern, with a rounded skull, no sagittal crest, modest eyebrow ridges, and a small amount of nasal prominence.

KNM-ER 3733, Homo erectus, was discovered by Bernard Ngeneo in 1975. Estimated age is 1.78 million years, the oldest securely-dated Homo erectus skull in the world. This superb find consisted of an almost complete cranium. The brain size is about 850 cc, and the whole skull is similar to some of the Peking Man fossils.

KNM-ER 1470 was discovered by Bernard Ngeneo in 1972 at Koobi Fora in Kenya. The estimated age is 1.9 million years. This is the most complete Homo habilis skull known. Its brain size is 750 cc, large for habilis. It was originally dated at nearly 3 million years old, a figure that caused much controversy because, at the time, it was older than any known australopithecines, from whom habilis had supposedly descended. A lively debate over the dating of 1470 ensued. The braincase is surprisingly modern in many respects, much less robust than any australopithecine skull, and also without the robustness and large brow ridges typical of Homo erectus. The face, in contrast, is extremely large and robust. In the last few years, an increasing number of scientists have been classifying this skull as Homo rudolfensis.

© Rutgers University 1997 - 2004
Rutgers University reserves the right to make any changes in this program that may become necessary.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is dedicated by law and by purpose to serving all people on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis.

FAMOUS FINDS Though there have been thousands of hominid bones and stone tools found in the Koobi Fora region, four of these have been especially illuminating in our search to understand our origins. The location of these four, along with every other hominid find, is marked by a permanent concrete post bearing the museum accession numbers, standing like a tombstone for another era. These four are: KNM-ER 1470 KNM-ER 1813 KNM-ER 3733 KNM-ER 406
	KNM-ER 406, Australopithecus boisei was discovered by Richard Leakey in 1969 in the Ileret subregion of East Turkana. This find was a complete, intact cranium lacking only the teeth. Estimated age is about 1.7 million years. The brain size is about 510 cc. The discovery of this fossil in the same stratum as ER 3733 (Homo erectus) delivered the coup de grace to the single species hypothesis: the idea that there has never been more than one hominid species at any point in history.
	KNM-ER 1813 was discovered by Kamoya Kimeu in 1973. This specimen is similar to 1470, but is much smaller, with a brain size of 510 cc. Estimated age is 1.8-1.9 million years. Apart from its extremely small size, ER 1813 is quite similar to a number of Homo erectus and Homo habilis skulls. It is surprisingly modern, with a rounded skull, no sagittal crest, modest eyebrow ridges, and a small amount of nasal prominence.
	KNM-ER 3733, Homo erectus, was discovered by Bernard Ngeneo in 1975. Estimated age is 1.78 million years, the oldest securely-dated Homo erectus skull in the world. This superb find consisted of an almost complete cranium. The brain size is about 850 cc, and the whole skull is similar to some of the Peking Man fossils.
	KNM-ER 1470 was discovered by Bernard Ngeneo in 1972 at Koobi Fora in Kenya. The estimated age is 1.9 million years. This is the most complete Homo habilis skull known. Its brain size is 750 cc, large for habilis. It was originally dated at nearly 3 million years old, a figure that caused much controversy because, at the time, it was older than any known australopithecines, from whom habilis had supposedly descended. A lively debate over the dating of 1470 ensued. The braincase is surprisingly modern in many respects, much less robust than any australopithecine skull, and also without the robustness and large brow ridges typical of Homo erectus. The face, in contrast, is extremely large and robust. In the last few years, an increasing number of scientists have been classifying this skull as Homo rudolfensis.
© Rutgers University 1997 - 2004 Rutgers University reserves the right to make any changes in this program that may become necessary. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is dedicated by law and by purpose to serving all people on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis.