Kamoya Kimeu
Encyclopedia
Kamoya Kimeu, is one of the world's most successful fossil collectors who, together with paleontologists
Meave Leakey
and Richard Leakey
, is responsible for some of the most significant paleoanthropological discoveries. Kimeu found a Homo habilis
skull known as KNM ER 1813
, and an almost complete Homo erectus
skeleton named KNM-WT 15000 or Turkana Boy
(also known as Nariokotome boy). He has two fossil primates named after him: Kamoyapithecus hamiltoni and Cercopithecoides kimeui.
Kimeu began to work in paleoanthropology
as a laborer for Louis Leakey
and Mary Leakey
in the 1950s. In 1963 he joined with Richard Leakey's expeditions, accompanying him to the Omo River
and Lake Rudolf (now Lake Turkana
) in 1967. He quickly became Richard Leakey's right-hand man, assuming control of field operations in Leakey's absence. In 1977 he became the National Museums of Kenya
's curator for all prehistoric sites in Kenya.
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
Meave Leakey
Meave Leakey
Meave G. Leakey is together with her husband Richard Leakey one of the most renowned contemporary paleontologists. She studies the origin of mankind in Africa.-Flat-Faced Man of Kenya:...
and Richard Leakey
Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey is a politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist. He is second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, and is the younger brother of Colin Leakey...
, is responsible for some of the most significant paleoanthropological discoveries. Kimeu found a Homo habilis
Homo habilis
Homo habilis is a species of the genus Homo, which lived from approximately at the beginning of the Pleistocene period. The discovery and description of this species is credited to both Mary and Louis Leakey, who found fossils in Tanzania, East Africa, between 1962 and 1964. Homo habilis Homo...
skull known as KNM ER 1813
KNM ER 1813
KNM ER 1813 is a skull. It was discovered in Koobi Fora, Kenya by Kamoya Kimeu in 1973, and is estimated to be 1.9 million years old.Its characteristics include an overall smaller size than other Homo habilis finds but with a fully adult and typical H. habilis morphology.KNM means Kenya National...
, and an almost complete Homo erectus
Homo erectus
Homo erectus is an extinct species of hominid that lived from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the later Pleistocene, about . The species originated in Africa and spread as far as India, China and Java. There is still disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and progeny of H...
skeleton named KNM-WT 15000 or Turkana Boy
Turkana Boy
Turkana Boy, also occasionally, Nariokotome Boy is the common name of fossil KNM-WT 15000, a nearly complete skeleton of a hominid who died in the early Pleistocene. This specimen is the most complete early human skeleton ever found. It is 1.5 million years old...
(also known as Nariokotome boy). He has two fossil primates named after him: Kamoyapithecus hamiltoni and Cercopithecoides kimeui.
Kimeu began to work in paleoanthropology
Paleoanthropology
Paleoanthropology, which combines the disciplines of paleontology and physical anthropology, is the study of ancient humans as found in fossil hominid evidence such as petrifacted bones and footprints.-19th century:...
as a laborer for Louis Leakey
Louis Leakey
Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey was a British archaeologist and naturalist whose work was important in establishing human evolutionary development in Africa. He also played a major role in creating organizations for future research in Africa and for protecting wildlife there...
and Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey was a British archaeologist and anthropologist, who discovered the first skull of a fossil ape on Rusinga Island and also a noted robust Australopithecine called Zinjanthropus at Olduvai. For much of her career she worked together with her husband, Louis Leakey, in Olduvai Gorge,...
in the 1950s. In 1963 he joined with Richard Leakey's expeditions, accompanying him to the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
and Lake Rudolf (now Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana , formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is a lake in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake...
) in 1967. He quickly became Richard Leakey's right-hand man, assuming control of field operations in Leakey's absence. In 1977 he became the National Museums of Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
The National Museums of Kenya is a State Corporation that manages Museums, Sites and Monuments in Kenya. It also practices scientific research. Its headquarters and the National Museum are located on Museum Hill, near Uhuru Highway between Central Business District and Westlands in Nairobi...
's curator for all prehistoric sites in Kenya.
See also
- List of fossil sites (with link directory)
- List of hominina (hominid) fossils (with images)