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New fossils from Koobi Fora in northern Kenya confirm taxonomic diversity in early Homo

Nature volume 488, pages 201–204 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Since its discovery in 1972 (ref. 1), the cranium KNM-ER 1470 has been at the centre of the debate over the number of species of early Homo present in the early Pleistocene epoch2 of eastern Africa. KNM-ER 1470 stands out among other specimens attributed to early Homo because of its larger size, and its flat and subnasally orthognathic face with anteriorly placed maxillary zygomatic roots3. This singular morphology and the incomplete preservation of the fossil have led to different views as to whether KNM-ER 1470 can be accommodated within a single species of early Homo that is highly variable because of sexual, geographical and temporal factors4,5,6,7,8,9, or whether it provides evidence of species diversity marked by differences in cranial size and facial or masticatory adaptation3,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20. Here we report on three newly discovered fossils, aged between 1.78 and 1.95 million years (Myr) old, that clarify the anatomy and taxonomic status of KNM-ER 1470. KNM-ER 62000, a well-preserved face of a late juvenile hominin, closely resembles KNM-ER 1470 but is notably smaller. It preserves previously unknown morphology, including moderately sized, mesiodistally long postcanine teeth. The nearly complete mandible KNM-ER 60000 and mandibular fragment KNM-ER 62003 have a dental arcade that is short anteroposteriorly and flat across the front, with small incisors; these features are consistent with the arcade morphology of KNM-ER 1470 and KNM-ER 62000. The new fossils confirm the presence of two contemporary species of early Homo, in addition to Homo erectus, in the early Pleistocene of eastern Africa.

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Figure 1: The KNM-ER 62000 face.
Figure 2: The KNM-ER 60000 mandible and KNM-ER 62003 mandible fragment.
Figure 3: Dental arcades compared.
Figure 4: A composite section of the Karari Ridge strata.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania for permission to carry out this research, the Kenya Wildlife Service for permission to work in the Sibiloi National Park, the National Museums of Kenya and the National Museum of Tanzania for access to specimens in their care, and the Turkana Basin Institute for support. The National Geographic Society, the Leakey Foundation and the Max Planck Society funded fieldwork or laboratory studies. Many people helped us with this research, including N. Adamali, R. Blumenschine, C. Boesch, F. Brown, P. Gunz, J. J. Hublin, W. Kimbel, K. Kupczik, R. Leakey, C. Lepre, D. Lieberman, P. Msemwa, R. Odoyo, R. Quinn, P. Rightmire, L. Schroeder, U. Schwarz, M. Skinner, H. Temming, A. Winzer and B. Wood. Curatorial assistance was given by A. Kweka, F. Manthi, E. Mbua, M. Muungu and J. Thiringi. KNM-ER 60000 was discovered by C. Nyete, KNM-ER 62000 by D. Elgite and KNM-ER 62003 by R. Moru. We particularly thank the Koobi Fora Research Project field crew: A. Aike, S. Aila, D. Elgite, M. Kirinya, D. Gidole, O. Kyalo, A. Longaye, A. Lawri, E. Linga, J. Lonyericho, S. Lomeiku, D. Muema, A. Moru, R. Moru, S. Muge, C. Nyete, L. Nzuve, H. Sale and A. Sharamo whose fieldwork led to the discovery of these specimens, and camp managers J. Mutuku and T. Ngundo. H. Churcher, J. Coreth, A. Hammond, J. LaCarrubba, F. Kirera, C. Lepre, M. Noback, R. Quinn, M. Skinner, I. Wallace and S. Wright participated in one or more of the 2007, 2008 or 2009 field expeditions when these specimens were discovered. We are grateful to F. and J. Pinto, W. Philips, M. Hettwer, P. Sylvester, H. Buchi, N. Seligman, E. von Simpson, J. Doerr and B. and J. Chelberg for their financial support of this fieldwork.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Turkana Basin Institute, PO Box 24926, Nairobi 00502, Kenya ,

    Meave G. Leakey, Christopher Kiarie & Louise N. Leakey

  2. Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, New York, USA

    Meave G. Leakey & Louise N. Leakey

  3. Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 04103, Germany

    Fred Spoor

  4. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK,

    Fred Spoor & M. Christopher Dean

  5. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, 08854-8066, New Jersey, USA

    Craig S. Feibel

  6. Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, 10003, New York, USA

    Susan C. Antón

Authors
  1. Meave G. Leakey
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  3. M. Christopher Dean
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  5. Susan C. Antón
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  6. Christopher Kiarie
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  7. Louise N. Leakey
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Contributions

Author Contributions M.G.L. and L.N.L. directed the field research, in which C.S.F. and F.S. participated. C.K. and F.S. prepared the hominin fossils, F.S. and M.C.D. made the virtual reconstructions, and C.S.F. studied the geological context. M.G.L., F.S., M.C.D., S.C.A. and L.N.L. made comparative observations and carried out analyses. F.S. took the lead in writing the paper, and S.C.A., M.C.D. and C.S.F. contributed.

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Correspondence to Meave G. Leakey or Fred Spoor.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Leakey, M., Spoor, F., Dean, M. et al. New fossils from Koobi Fora in northern Kenya confirm taxonomic diversity in early Homo. Nature 488, 201–204 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11322

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