Olduvai Gorge, 1951-1961: Excavations in beds III, IV, and the Masek beds, 1968-1971

Book excerpt: At Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania natural erosion exposed a series of superimposed geological beds containing rich artefacts and fossil assemblages spanning the last 1.8 million years. The site is famous for the excavations conducted there since 1951 under the direction of Mary Leakey and her husband. This book records the archaeological finds in the upper part of the Olduvai Gorge sequence, covering the period 1.2 to 0.4 million years ago, and includes artefacts and faunal remains excavated from sites in Beds III, IV and the Masek Beds. Mary Leakey's analysis is supported by chapters from other authors summarising the geological background and providing detailed analyses of the manufacture and use of tools found on the site.