Human Origins. Exploring the Past. Inspiring the future.

KNM-ER 42700 Region Ileret, East Turkana Epoch Early Pleistocene Taxon Homo erectus GPS 4.30844°N, 36.27567°E Specimen ID KNM-ER 42700 Type skull Discovered Kyalo Manthi (2002) Age (Ma) 2.0 X 54 Y 25 Significance Smallest H. erectus skull; Asian morphology in Africa Connections Contemporary H. erectus specimens from East Turkana knmer992,knmer3733 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-42700?o=1

This discovery from Ileret at east Turkana was made by Kyalo Manthi in 2002. The skull was encased in sandstone rock with only the ear hole outline visible. After months of careful laboratory cleaning, the beautifully preserved cranium and brow ridges were revealed, though the face and lower jaw are missing. Significant as one of the smallest known skulls of Homo erectus, with characters previously thought to define Asian varieties including a slight keel along the skull crest. Homo erectus was the first human ancestor to move out of Africa 1.8 million years ago, with fossil remains found from Kenya to China, Indonesia, and Georgia.

KNM-WT 15000 (Turkana Boy) Nariokotome, West Turkana 4.103316°N, 35.881203°E KNM-WT 15000 Kamoya Kimeu (1984) Homo erectus Early Pleistocene skeleton 1.6 43.5 45 Most complete early human skeleton; growth evidence Contemporary with early Homo and Paranthropus species knmer1470,knmwt17000 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmwt-15000-c?o=1

This 1.6 million year old skeleton of Homo erectus was discovered on a Sunday morning in August 1984 when Kamoya Kimeu spotted a matchbox-sized skull fragment on a gentle slope near the Nariokotome River. The excavation revealed one of the most important fossil discoveries in East Africa, with pieces of skull, teeth, ribs, and eventually a remarkably complete skeleton. This adolescent specimen transformed our understanding of growth, body proportions, and early human dispersal out of Africa.

KNM-ER 1470 (Homo rudolfensis) Karari Ridge, East Turkana 4.16323°N, 36.38869°E KNM-ER 1470 Bernard Ngeneo (1972) Homo rudolfensis Early Pleistocene skull 1.9 64 32 Large brain; flat-faced early Homo Ancestor to later Homo lineages; contemporary with multiple hominins knmer992,knmwt15000,knmer1813 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1470?o=1

This 1.9 million year old hominin cranium was discovered in 1972 by Bernard Ngeneo and reconstructed by Meave Leakey from hundreds of broken fragments. It represents an almost complete skull of early Homo with significant large brain size typical of our genus. Distinctive for its straight profile when viewed from the side, it was named Homo rudolfensis after Lake Rudolf (now Lake Turkana).

KNM-ER 992 (Homo ergaster) Ileret, East Turkana 4.3038°N, 36.2709°E KNM-ER 992 Koobi Fora Research Project (1971) Homo erectus (Homo ergaster) Early Pleistocene skull 1.5 54 25 Type specimen of H. ergaster Contemporary with P. boisei at Ileret knmer42700,knmer406 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-992-a?o=1

This lower jaw was discovered in 1971 near Ileret in an extraordinary circumstance - the fossil hunting team was taking cover from gunfire when they spotted this specimen in nearby bush. Designated as the type specimen of Homo ergaster by Colin Groves in 1975.

KNM-ER 406 (Paranthropus boisei) Ileret, East Turkana 4.06897°N, 36.36279°E KNM-ER 406 Richard & Meave Leakey (1969) Paranthropus boisei Early Pleistocene skull 1.9 54 25 Complete robust australopithecine cranium Contemporary with H. erectus specimens at Ileret knmer992,knmer732 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-406?o=1

Exploring unknown sites near Ileret in 1969 with camels, Richard and Meave Leakey spotted this complete skull rolling directly at them from a dry sand river bank. Complete with some sandstone but without teeth, it would certainly have been lost in the next rains.

KNM-ER 1813 (Homo habilis) Bura Hasuma, East Turkana 3.8597°N, 36.35565°E KNM-ER 1813 Kamoya Kimeu (1973) Homo habilis Early Pleistocene skull 1.88 55 48 "Handy Man" tool-maker evidence Contemporary early Homo from East Turkana knmer1470 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1

This delicate and small skull of Homo habilis was discovered in 1973 by Kamoya Kimeu who spotted fragments of the upper jaw with beautifully preserved teeth. Richard and Meave Leakey reconstructed the cranium in the field.

KNM-ER 3733 (Homo erectus) Koobi Fora Ridge, East Turkana 3.96372°N, 36.30675°E KNM-ER 3733 Bernard Ngeneo (1975) Homo erectus Early Pleistocene skull 1.75 52.5 35 Most complete H. erectus cranium with face Contemporary with multiple hominin species; direct human ancestor knmer42700,knmwt15000 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-3733?o=1

This nearly complete cranium was found in 1975 by Bernard Ngeneo with brow ridges just visible on the surface. Richard Leakey carefully excavated this fragile specimen over three days. One of the most complete H. erectus skulls from Africa with face and teeth.

KNM-WT 17000 (Black Skull) Lomekwi I, West Turkana 3.877831°N, 35.81185°E KNM-WT 17000 Alan Walker (1985) Paranthropus aethiopicus Pliocene skull 2.5 41 50 Ancestor to P. boisei; robust australopithecine Ancestral to later robust australopithecines knmer406,knmer732 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmwt-17000?o=1

This impressive, relatively complete skull is very dark in color, earning it the name "Black Skull." Found in 1985 by Alan Walker near Nariokotome. A predecessor to P. boisei with smaller brain and more protruding face.

KNM-KP 29283 (Au. anamensis) Kanapoi, West Turkana 2.302297°N, 36.089685°E KNM-KP 29283 Wambua Mangao (1994) Australopithecus anamensis Early Pliocene skull 4.16 48 94 Early bipedalism evidence; 4+ million years old Ancestral to later Homo lineages knmwt40000 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmkp-29283?o=1

After five years at Lothagam with few hominin finds, the team moved to Kanapoi. Wambua Mangao found the first half of this upper jaw of Australopithecus anamensis dated at 4.16 million years. The maxilla shows primitive ape-like features yet associated tibiae prove bipedalism.

KNM-WT 40000 (Kenyanthropus platyops) Lomekwi VI, West Turkana 3.865136°N, 35.751259°E KNM-WT 40000 Justus Edung (1999) Kenyanthropus platyops Late Pliocene skull 3.2 41 50 Flat-faced ancestor; 3+ million year diversity Potential ancestor to H. rudolfensis knmer1470,knmkp29283 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmwt-40000-?o=1

In the final week of the 1999 field season, fossil hunter Justus Edung spotted a scrappy upper jaw piece at Lomekwi. Preserved in clay substrate that expands and contracts with wet-dry cycles, the fossil was cracked and broken. Named Kenyanthropus for Kenya's contribution and platyops for its flat-faced appearance.

KNM-NP 59050 (Nyanyapithecus alesi) Napudet, West Turkana 2.974695°N, 35.885329°E KNM-NP 59050 John Ekusi (2014) Nyanyapithecus alesi Middle Miocene skull 13.0 42 55 Ancient baby ape; 13 million years old Contemporary with other Miocene apes knmws16950

This remarkably complete skull was discovered at Napudet by John Ekusi, with the eye socket looking directly at him. Dated to about 13 million years, this is a baby ape named Alesi — the Turkana word for "ancestor."

KNM-WS 16950 (Afropithecus turkanensis) Buluk, East Turkana 4.262093°N, 36.59402°E KNM-WS 16950 Kamoya Kimeu (1984) Afropithecus turkanensis Middle Miocene skull 17.0 65 15 Ancient African ape; pre-Eurasian distribution Contemporary Miocene ape diversity knmnp59050 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmwk-16999

After the Nariokotome discovery, Kamoya Kimeu and team found this skull of Afropithecus turkanensis, a Miocene ape dated at 17 million years. During the early Miocene there was extraordinary ape diversity restricted to Africa.

KNM-ER 732 (Paranthropus boisei) Ileret, East Turkana 4.29972°N, 36.30602°E KNM-ER 732 Henry Mutua (1970) Paranthropus boisei Early Pleistocene skull 1.95 54 25 Female robust australopithecine; sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism with male P. boisei specimens knmer406 https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-732?o=1

This partial skull with right side of face preserved was discovered in 1970 by Henry Mutua. Thought to be a female P. boisei, it shares anatomical characteristics with robust males but lacks the distinctive sagittal crest found in males like KNM-ER 406.

KNM-ER 64061 (Homo habilis skeleton) Ileret, East Turkana 4.26129°N, 36.33406°E KNM-ER 64061 Field team (2013) Homo habilis Early Pleistocene skeleton 2.0 54 25 Most complete H. habilis skeleton Contemporary early Homo specimens knmer1813

This partial skeleton of Homo habilis discovered in 2013 is the most complete H. habilis skeleton found to date, dated to approximately 2 million years. It includes collarbones, arm bones, and parts of a pelvis, bridging the transition from quadrupedal to bipedal locomotion.

KNM-ER 101000 (Paranthropus hand) Ileret, East Turkana 3.91°N, 36.22°E KNM-ER 101000 Field team (2019) Paranthropus boisei Early Pleistocene hand 2.0 54 25 Sophisticated hand morphology; tool capability Contemporary robust australopithecine specimens knmer406,knmer732

This recent discovery of a Paranthropus boisei hand shows this species had a surprisingly humanlike hand with long thumbs, straight fingers, and broad fingertips, suggesting capability for high precision grips and likely tool-making.