MNK Skull Site
MNK Skull (Mary Nicol Korongo, MNK) is located in the Side Gorge and is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Olduvai Gorge, due to Mary Leakey´s discovery of human fossils (OH 13, OH 14, and OH 15) that were used in the definition of the Homo habilis taxon.
The mandible of Cinderella (OH 13), discovered by Mary Leakey and used in the definition of the Homo habilis species in the 1960s.
OH 13 (nicknamed Cindy, or Cinderella) is a paratype of Homo habilis, and includes much of the cranial vault, greater part of both maxillae and of the mandible, some of the maxillary cheek teeth and all of the mandibular teeth.
An important archaeological assemblage is contained in the same horizon as the hominin fossils, constituting the last evidence of both Homo habilis remains and handaxe-free tool kits in the Olduvai Gorge sequence.
Our excavations at the site between 2010 and 2014 were the first to be conducted since the Leakey´s original work in the 1960s, and sought to refine the archaeological context wherein the Homo habilis remains were discovered.
Location of trenches at MNK Skull.
Chronostratigraphic results place the MNK Skull sequence in Middle Bed II prior to deposition of Tuff IIB. The assemblage was deposited near the shoreline, and fossils and stone tools were subjected to significant post-depositional processes. Rather than an occupation site as originally interpreted, the assemblage is better understood as a background deposit, possibly accumulated over a long period of time.
Beginning of the southward extension of Leakey´s trench by OGAP.
General view of the deep trench of T36.
OGAP-T3 trench after completion of excavations.
Main archaeological unit in T36 from the top of the trench.
The stone tool assemblage is dominated by a core and flake technology where freehand knapping dominates. Proportions of technological categories and the techno-typological features of the assemblage place the MNK Skull assemblage in the Oldowan.
Spatially-associated unmodified lithic and fossil fragment in the main archaeological unit of trench T3 in MNK Skull.
Vertically-positioned chert flake during the excavation of the main unit.
Phonolite core from the main archaeological unit in T3-MNK Skull.
MNK Skull is the last handaxe-free site at Olduvai, therefore marking the end of the Oldowan at Olduvai. Thus, with an approximate age of circa 1.67 Ma, MNK Skull stands as a key site to understand the late Oldowan and the disappearance of Homo habilis in East Africa.
Lava core from T3-MNK Skull.
Retouched stone artefact from T3-MNK Skull.
