Human Origins. Exploring the Past. Inspiring the future.
Leakey Journeys and Expeditions (LJE) strives to deepen our understanding of humanity's origins and help safeguard our shared legacy, through educational outreach, research and journeys through time. LJE was founded by Louise Leakey, a third-generation Kenyan paleoanthropologist, on the belief that understanding and valuing our shared past will enable better stewardship of our common future. As the poet and author Maya Angelou, alluded to, "You can't really know where you're going until you know where you have come from."
58+Years of fieldwork
>30,000Fossil specimens found
>450Hominin fossils
New Blog
The discovery of the Paranthropus boisei hand
The Koobi Fora Research Project announce the discovery of new hand and foot fossils of Paranthropus, a distant cousin to humans, significantly extending our understanding of the evolution of tool use and bipedality within the human family tree
East Africa's Turkana Basin is as unique as it is vast. Here several millions of years of our evolutionary story are preserved — and spectacular fossils lie waiting to be discovered. Our team is dedicated to exploration, discovery and recovery of irreplaceable fossils. Without this effort, fossils will disintegration when naturally exposed through erosion.
We also share stories of discovery, lectures, field chronicles, archival images and more.
Six decades of discovery— photographs, field notes, fossil records, and the stories of the people who rewrote the human timeline on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana.
Witness our team uncovering history at Lake Turkana with a glimpse into the field. Join us as we explore ancient fossil sites, uncovering evidence that tells the story of our origins.
Experience the humbling thrill of discovery alongside our expert team in the hot and windswept fossil exposures at Lake Turkana. Exclusive visits can be arranged to join the team.
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KNM-ER 42700RegionIleret, East TurkanaEpochEarly PleistoceneTaxonHomo erectusGPS4.30844°N, 36.27567°ESpecimen IDKNM-ER 42700TypeskullDiscoveredKyalo Manthi (2002)Age (Ma)2.0X54Y25SignificanceSmallest H. erectus skull; Asian morphology in AfricaConnectionsContemporary H. erectus specimens from East Turkanaknmer992,knmer3733https://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 Turkana4.103316°N, 35.881203°EKNM-WT 15000Kamoya Kimeu (1984)Homo erectusEarly Pleistoceneskeleton1.643.545Most complete early human skeleton; growth evidenceContemporary with early Homo and Paranthropus speciesknmer1470,knmwt17000https://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 Turkana4.16323°N, 36.38869°EKNM-ER 1470Bernard Ngeneo (1972)Homo rudolfensisEarly Pleistoceneskull1.96432Large brain; flat-faced early HomoAncestor to later Homo lineages; contemporary with multiple homininsknmer992,knmwt15000,knmer1813https://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 Turkana4.3038°N, 36.2709°EKNM-ER 992Koobi Fora Research Project (1971)Homo erectus (Homo ergaster)Early Pleistoceneskull1.55425Type specimen of H. ergasterContemporary with P. boisei at Ileretknmer42700,knmer406https://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 Turkana4.06897°N, 36.36279°EKNM-ER 406Richard & Meave Leakey (1969)Paranthropus boiseiEarly Pleistoceneskull1.95425Complete robust australopithecine craniumContemporary with H. erectus specimens at Ileretknmer992,knmer732https://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 Turkana3.8597°N, 36.35565°EKNM-ER 1813Kamoya Kimeu (1973)Homo habilisEarly Pleistoceneskull1.885548"Handy Man" tool-maker evidenceContemporary early Homo from East Turkanaknmer1470https://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 Turkana3.96372°N, 36.30675°EKNM-ER 3733Bernard Ngeneo (1975)Homo erectusEarly Pleistoceneskull1.7552.535Most complete H. erectus cranium with faceContemporary with multiple hominin species; direct human ancestorknmer42700,knmwt15000https://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 Turkana3.877831°N, 35.81185°EKNM-WT 17000Alan Walker (1985)Paranthropus aethiopicusPlioceneskull2.54150Ancestor to P. boisei; robust australopithecineAncestral to later robust australopithecinesknmer406,knmer732https://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 Turkana2.302297°N, 36.089685°EKNM-KP 29283Wambua Mangao (1994)Australopithecus anamensisEarly Plioceneskull4.164894Early bipedalism evidence; 4+ million years oldAncestral to later Homo lineagesknmwt40000https://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 Turkana3.865136°N, 35.751259°EKNM-WT 40000Justus Edung (1999)Kenyanthropus platyopsLate Plioceneskull3.24150Flat-faced ancestor; 3+ million year diversityPotential ancestor to H. rudolfensisknmer1470,knmkp29283https://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 Turkana2.974695°N, 35.885329°EKNM-NP 59050John Ekusi (2014)Nyanyapithecus alesiMiddle Mioceneskull13.04255Ancient baby ape; 13 million years oldContemporary with other Miocene apesknmws16950
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 Turkana4.262093°N, 36.59402°EKNM-WS 16950Kamoya Kimeu (1984)Afropithecus turkanensisMiddle Mioceneskull17.06515Ancient African ape; pre-Eurasian distributionContemporary Miocene ape diversityknmnp59050https://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 Turkana4.29972°N, 36.30602°EKNM-ER 732Henry Mutua (1970)Paranthropus boiseiEarly Pleistoceneskull1.955425Female robust australopithecine; sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism with male P. boisei specimensknmer406https://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 Turkana4.26129°N, 36.33406°EKNM-ER 64061Field team (2013)Homo habilisEarly Pleistoceneskeleton2.05425Most complete H. habilis skeletonContemporary early Homo specimensknmer1813
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 Turkana3.91°N, 36.22°EKNM-ER 101000Field team (2019)Paranthropus boiseiEarly Pleistocenehand2.05425Sophisticated hand morphology; tool capabilityContemporary robust australopithecine specimensknmer406,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.
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Alia Bay, 1968
Kamoya Kimeu and Richard Leakey, 1972
Camel expedition to Ileret, 1969
