Association between Oldowan assemblages and Paranthropus (P. boisei)
The association between Paranthropus boisei specimens and Oldowan assemblages can be observed in four sites (in Kenya at Homa Peninsula, Nyayanga site (HC1); in the western part of Lake Turkana, Kokiselei 1 (HC1) and at Koobi Fora, FXJj 20 (HC1); in Tanzania, at Oldupai Gorge, BK site (HC1)), dated between 3.03-2.58 and 1.34 Ma (Table 1; Fig. 3). Here I describe the oldest and youngest sites with hominin remains discovered in archaeological layers or at the surface of the excavation (HC1).
LocalityRegionAge (Ma)HomininsIndustryCategory ofreliabilityAssociation between Oldowan assemblages andHomo (H. habilis sensu latoandHomosp.)A.L. 666 Hadar (Ethiopia)c.2.35 (Campisano & Feibel 2008) 2.3 and 1.9 (Rowanet al.2022) A.L. 666-1Homo aff. H. habilis(Kimbelet al.1997) Oldowan (Kimbelet al.1996) HC 1 Lokalalei 1, Gajh5 West Turkana (Kenya) 2.34 +/- 0.04 (Pratet al.2005) KNM-WT 42718 EarlyHomo(Pratet al.2005) Oldowan (Pratet al.2005) HC 2 FJ-1a Fejej (Ethiopia) 1.95-1.90 (Chaponet al.2005) Fj-1-Hd1, Hd3, Hd4Homoaff.Homo habilis(de Lumley & Marchal 2004) Oldowan (e.g. Asfawet al.1991; de Lumley & Beyene 2004; Barskyet al.2011) HC 2 DK Oldupai Gorge (Tanzania) 1.87-1.84 (Deino 2012) OH 24Homo habilis(Leakeyet al.1971) Oldowan (Leakey 1971; de la Torre & Mora 2005) HC 2 Ewass Oldupa Oldupai Gorge (Tanzania)c.1.82 (Blumenschineet al.2003; Deino 2012; McHenry 2012) OH 65Homo habilis(Blumenschineet al.2012; Clarke 2012) Oldowan (Mercaderet al.2021) HC 2 MNK Skull Oldupai Gorge (Tanzania)c.1.67 (de la Torreet al.2021) OH 13 ParatypeHomo habilisOH 15Homo habilis(Leakeyet al.1964; Tobias 1991) Oldowan (Leakey 1971; de la Torreet al.2021 HC 1) HC 1)Association between Oldowan assemblages andParanthropusNyayanga, excavation 3 Lake Victoria (Kenya) 3.03-2.58 (Plummeret al.2023) KNM-NG 77316Paranthropus(Plummeret al.2023) Oldowan (Plummeret al.2023 ) HC 1 Kokiselei 1 FxJh6 West Turkana (Kenya) 1.79 (Boëset al.2024) KNM-WT 37744, 37747, 37748, 37100Paranthropus boisei(Pratet al.2003) Oldowan (Rocheet al.2003; Arroyoet al.2020) HC 1 FxJj 20 Koobi Fora (Kenya) 1.65 +/- 0.05 (Feibelet al.1989) KNM-ER 3230Paranthropus boisei(Wood 1991) Oldowan (Harris & Herbich 1978) HC 1 BK site level 4, Bed II Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) 1.34 (Domínguez-Rodrigoet al.2013) OH 80Paranthropus boisei(Domínguez-Rodrigoet al.2013) Oldowan (Domínguez-Rodrigoet al.2009) HC 1Association between Oldowan assemblages,HomoandParanthropusOMO 57/5 Lower Omo 2.32-2.23 OMO 57/5-1972-371 Oldowan HC 1 Valley (McDougall & Brown 2008)Paranthropusaff.aethiopicus(Coppenset al.1973; (Ethiopia) (Coppens 1977; Suwa 1990; Chavaillon 1976) Wood & Leakey 2011) OMO 57/5-1972-319 Indet. (White 1988) Non robust indet. hominin (Suwa 1990)Homoaff.Homosp. (Wood & Leakey 2011) FLK NN Oldupai Gorge 1.84 OH 7 cranial remains Oldowan HC 1 level 3 (Tanzania) (Deino 2012)Homo habilis(Holotype) (Leakeyet al.1964; (Leakeyet al.1964) Leakey 1971) FLK NN Oldupai Gorge 1.84 OH 7 hand bones Oldowan HC 1 level 3 (Tanzania) (Deino 2012)Homo habilis(Leakeyet al.1964; (Leakeyet al.1964) Leakey 1971) orParanthropus(Moyà-Solàet al.2008) FLK NN Oldupai Gorge 1.84 OH 8 foot bones Oldowan HC 1 level 3 (Tanzania) (Deino 2012)Homo habilis(paratype) (Leakeyet al.1964; (Day & Napier 1964; Leakeyet al.Leakey 1971) 1964) HC 1The oldest site with an association between Oldowan and Paranthropus remains is Nyayanga, which in the Homa Peninsula near Lake Victoria’s Winam Gulf in Kenya. This site revealed one of the oldest Oldowan assemblages, dated between 3.032 Ma and 2.581 Ma (Plummer et al. 2023), with 135 in situ artefacts (excavations 3 and 5) and faunal remains, some of which bear cutmarks. The lithic artefacts show evidence of unifacial, bifacial, and multifacial reduction, and are comparable to lithics from other Oldowan sites. Use wear analyses indicate the processing of plant and animal tissues. From excavation 3, KNM-NG 77316 (a left lower molar fragment) was found in situ, associated with Oldowan artefacts (HC1) and KNM-NG 77315 (a left upper molar) from the surface. Both teeth are assigned to Paranthropus based on their morphology and metrics.
The youngest site illustrating an association between Paranthropus specimens and Oldowan artefacts is BK site in Oldupai Gorge (Bed II) in Tanzania. In this site dated to 1.34 Ma, a partial Paranthropus boisei skeleton (OH 80) was discovered in situ in level 4 (HC1) (Domínguez-Rodrigo et al. 2013). This partial skeleton includes four postcranial bones and nine upper teeth, allocated to P. boisei on the basis of their morphology, dimensions, and postcranial bone section properties. This find represents the first partial skeleton attributed to P. boisei. A large Oldowan assemblage and numerous vertebrate fossils, including some with cut marks, were also unearthed in level 4 (Domínguez-Rodrigo et al. 2009).
Publication Date: 2025-12-05