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Where were the first Homo habilis fossils discovered?
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Homo habilis
Artist's rendering of Homo habilis, which lived from 2 to 1.5 million years ago.
The first fossils of Homo habilis were discovered at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania during excavations in 1959 and 1960.1
This discovery was a significant milestone in paleoanthropology, as it provided evidence of a human ancestor that was anatomically distinct from the more apelike Australopithecus. The initial remains identified at the site included several teeth, a lower jaw, and fragments of a cranium and hand bones. These findings, along with associated stone tools, were formally announced in 1964 by Louis S.B. Leakey and his colleagues, who named the species Homo habilis—meaning "handy man"—to reflect the creature's apparent ability to manipulate objects with precision.1