Olduvai Hominid 9

fossil

Also known as: OH 9

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

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Olduvai Hominid 9 (OH 9) is a fossil skull fragment discovered at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. It is attributed to Homo erectus and is estimated to be around 1.2 million years old. This fossil is significant because it represents one of the earliest known specimens of Homo erectus found in Africa, contributing to our understanding of human evolution during the Pleistocene Epoch. The discovery of OH 9 and other fossils at Olduvai Gorge has been crucial in piecing together the timeline of early human species, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus.123

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Homo erectus
African fossils
This fossil, catalogued as OH 9, was excavated by Louis S.B. Leakey and is probably about 1.2 million years old. Olduvai Gorge has since yielded additional cranial remains, jaws, and limb bones of H. erectus. Much of this material is fragmentary, but gaps in our knowledge of East African…
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This fossil, catalogued as OH 9, was excavated by Louis S.B. Leakey and is probably about 1.2 million years old. Olduvai Gorge has since yielded additional cranial remains, jaws, and limb bones of H. erectus. Much of this material is fragmentary, but gaps in our knowledge of East African…
Read More