The Koobi Fora Research Project has been exploring the fossil exposures in northern Kenya's Omo-Turkana Basin since 1968 to study human evolution. Some of the key finds include early hominins such as Homo habilis, Paranthropus boisei, and Homo erectus dating back to 1.8 million years ago. Throughout the decades, the project has uncovered new primate species, mapped out the geological and environmental history of the region, and provided insights into early humans and their adaptation and variation. It continues to make important contributions to our understanding of human origins through ongoing fieldwork and analyses.

1. RESULTS OF THE KOOBI FORA RESEARCH PROJECT

2. Koobi Fora Research Project (KFRP) 1968-today Exploration of the fossil exposures in the Omo-Turkana Basin, northern Kenya, for evidence that will disclose the course and context of human evolution

3. Australopithecus africanus 1925 Paranthropus robustus 1938 South Africa What was known from Africa in 1968

4. Paranthropus boisei 1959 East Africa

5. Homo habilis Homo erectus Olduvai Gorge 1960s

6. KNM-KP 271 Kanapoi 1965 Lothagam 1967 KNM-LT 329 What was known from Kenya? Late Miocene/early Pliocene

7. Baringo, Chemeron Baringo, Kapthurin Kanam Late Pliocene /Pleistocene

8. EAST TURKANA 1968

9. Field work 1969 Paranthropus boisei

10. Paranthropus boisei female Field work 1970

11. Koobi Fora 1970

13. KBS SITE 1.8 million years Koobi Fora Research Project 1970s

14. 1972 1974 Homo habilis Homo rudolphensis Early Homo

15. Earliest known Homo erectus skull 1.89 myr 1975

16. 1979 Frank Brown, with Thure Cerling, defined finger printing method of identifying tuffs (volcanic ashes)

17. Significance of finds in 70s Geological history of lake basin outlined Fossiliferous areas along Koobi Fora Ridge and Karari escarpment mapped Pliocene and Pleistocene faunas documented Rich hominid record disclosed Environmental trends towards more open country habitats demonstrated Archaeological record established Initial investigations of Holocene record

18. Koobi Fora Research Project 1980s Nachukui Formation, West Turkana

19. Nariokotome 1984

22. Turkana Boy 1.56 myr Only known Homo erectus skeleton KNM-ER 15000

23. Paranthropus æ thiopicus Earliest skull known of a robust australopithecine 2.6 myr KNM-ER 17000 “ Black Skull”

24. Earliest fossil ape Kamoyapithecus hamiltoni Loperot and Lothodok Late Oligocene 23-25 myr

25. Kalodirr and Buluk 17-18 myr Three new genera and species of fossil apes

26. Significance of finds in 80s Increased understanding of Homo erectus body plan, brain size and development Pliocene and Pleistocene faunal assemblages around the lake basin documented Earliest Paranthropus described Earliest fossil ape from the late Oligocene Three new species of early Miocene apes discovered

27. Major Turkana Basin Discoveries 1968-1989

28. H. sapiens chimpanzee Capitates Koobi Fora ResearchProject 1990s A. afarensis chimpanzee South Turkwell chimpanzee South Turkwell 3.5 myr

29. LOTHAGAM 8–3.5 myr

30. Lothagam Late Miocene hominins ~5.0 myr

31. Lothagam Late Miocene fauna ~7.0-5.0 myr

32. Type site for: 10 vertebrate genera (7 are mammals) and 8 vertebrate species (21 are mammals) LOTHAGAM

33. Brachypotherium Stegotetrabelodon Tragoportax Palaeotragus

34. kob Hexaprotodon Nyanzachoerus kudu impala

35. Isotopes Radiation of C4 grasses: many herbivores change from C3 to C4 diets after 9 myr EQUIDAE PROBOSCIDEA 8myr 8-7myr

36. Allia Bay – Site 261-1 3.9 myr

37. Allia Bay - 3.9 myr

38. KANAPOI 4.1 myr

39. Australopithecus anamensis 4.1 myr

41. Capitates A. afarensis chimpanzee A. anamensis South Turkwell Kanapoi A. afarensis

42. Australopithecus anamensis Fossil evidence: 47 specimens from Kanapoi 31 of specimens from Allia Bay TOTAL 78 Significance: earliest australopithecine secure evidence of bipedality wrist primitive likely ancestor for A. afarensis

43. Louise Leakey co-leader KFRP 1998-today

44. LOMEKWI 3.5-3.2 myr

45. 3 Ma 6 Ma ? ? Australopithecus afarensis the common ancestor?

46. Kenyanthropus platyops Holotype: Cranium KNM-WT 40000 (3.5 Myr.) Etymology: platus (Gk), flat; opsis (GK), face, appearance

47. ?

48. Significance of finds in 90s First good East African late Miocene fauna described Many herbivores change to C4 dominated diet between 8-6 myr Australopithecus anamensis : Earliest australopithecine bipedal but with primitive wrist bone 4.1 myr Kenyanthropus platyops: diversity in the hominin lineage at 3.5 myr

49. EAST TURKANA 2000 Fossils collected in 70s 2.0 to 1.3 myr

50. Discovery of KNM-ER 42700 by Frederick Manthi in 2000

52. 1.55 ± 0.05 myr Homo erectus

53. Smallest 691cc Largest 1067cc Sexual Dimorphism in Homo erectus

54. KNM-ER 42703 Homo habilis 1.44 + 0.01 myr

55. Homo erectus highly sexually dimorphic, almost as dimorphic as modern gorillas Expect a significant degree of variation Homo habilis lived alongside Homo erectus for >400,000 yrs (from 1.87 to 1.44 myr) Significance of finds in 2000

56. Current Research: GIS technology

57. GIS - Global information systems

59. 2000-2007 1970-1980 East Turkana fossil collections- context for human ancestors

60. New primate species discovered by the KFRP 1968-2008 Hominids Homo ergaster Homo rudolphensis Kenyanthropus platyops Australopithecus anamensis Kamoyapithecus hamiltoni Turkanapithecus kalakolensis Afropithecus turkanensis Simiolus engiessi Cercopithecids Paracolobus mutiwa Paracolobus kerioensis Rhinocolobus turkanensis Cercopithecoides kimeui Colobus freedmani Parapapio lothagamensis

61. Numbers of fossils and hominins collected 1968-2008 between 8-1.3 myr 384 16,315 Total 6 1,600 Lothagam 46 518 Kanapoi 61 4,310 West Turkana 271 9,887 East Turkana number of hominins number of fossils Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene

62. MONOGRAPHS and publications

63. MONOGRAPHS and publications

64. Sibiloi National Park gazetted in 1973

65. LLSB Memorial Building, completed 1977

66. Turkana Basin Institute

67. TBI postdoctoral fellows Dr. Francis Kirera Dr. Frederick Manthi Dr. Veronica Waweru

68. Koobi Fora Research Project Field Crew who find the fossils

69. If you want to know more www.turkanabasin.org www.kfrp.com Special thanks to the National Geographic Society for their long term sponsorship