A black-and-white photograph of an elderly woman with glasses and short, wavy hair, wearing a trench coat and a pearl necklace. She stands on a city street, giving a composed expression, evoking a sense of sophistication and resilience. The urban background suggests a mid-20th-century setting.
A black-and-white photograph of an elderly woman with glasses and short, wavy hair, wearing a trench coat and a pearl necklace. She stands on a city street, giving a composed expression, evoking a sense of sophistication and resilience. The urban background suggests a mid-20th-century setting.

Mary Leakey

Historical

Historical

Feb 6, 1913

-

Dec 9, 1996

A black-and-white photograph of an elderly woman with glasses and short, wavy hair, wearing a trench coat and a pearl necklace. She stands on a city street, giving a composed expression, evoking a sense of sophistication and resilience. The urban background suggests a mid-20th-century setting.

Mary Leakey

Historical

Historical

Feb 6, 1913

-

Dec 9, 1996

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Mary Leakey was a famous British paleoanthropologist whose work contributed to the knowledge of early humans’ evolution. Mary Douglas Nicol, born in 1913 in London, had a passion for archaeology since her childhood, which could be explained by her experience of observing prehistoric paintings in the caves during a family vacation in France. Even after being expelled from several schools, Leakey followed her passion for archaeology and became an illustrator. These skills took her to archaeological digs, and then she joined Gertrude Caton-Thompson in Egypt to polish her techniques. She first worked at the British Museum in 1933 and later met her future husband Louis Leakey in the same year; they married in 1936 and became a powerful husband and wife team devoted to finding out about the early ancestors of man.

Mary Leakey’s most active years were spent in East Africa, particularly Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where she and Louis discovered many fossils. Her discovery of Zinjanthropus boisei, a new early hominid species, in 1959 revolutionized the understanding of humanity’s evolution by placing Africa at the center. She later found the famous Laetoli footprints in 1978, proving that early human ancestors were bipedal 3.6 million years ago. After the death of her husband in 1972, Mary also carried on her work and thus became one of the most renowned paleoanthropologists ever. She also wrote other books, such as Disclosing the Past, an autobiography, and continued contributing to the discipline until she died in 1996.

Quotes

“I dug things up. I was curious. That’s all I could think of doing.”

“The past fascinates me, and I believe it has a lot to teach us about the future.”

“You don’t look at the fossils with a preconceived idea of what you’re going to find.”

“No amount of misfortune will prevent me from digging again tomorrow.”

“It is a wonderful thing to know that the earth preserves its secrets well.”

“What fascinates me most is that we find evidence of human history in the smallest of things.”

“Science is the pursuit of truth, no matter how small the fragments may be.”

“Sometimes the greatest discoveries come from moments of doubt.”

“Africa is where we all began; we are just trying to follow the footsteps.”

“Human evolution is the most important story ever told, and yet it is far from complete.”

“To study fossils is to study time, captured in stone.”

“The Earth gives up its secrets, not willingly, but with patience and persistence.”

“Each discovery opens another door to understanding where we come from.”

“I never felt the need to compare myself to others; I was competing with the past.”

“Discovery is about being patient, observant, and above all, open-minded.”

FAQ

What did Mary Leakey find that made her famous?

Some of Mary Leakey’s significant achievements include the 1959 discovery of the 1.8-million-year-old skull of Zinjanthropus boisei and the 1978 discovery of the Laetoli footprints.

What can be said about Mary Leakey in the context of paleoanthropology?

Mary’s findings in East Africa, especially the fossils she discovered, helped shift paleoanthropological research to Africa.

What were the Laetoli footprints, and who made them?

The Laetoli footprints are a group of fossilized footprints in Tanzania found by Mary Leakey. They provide the earliest evidence for human beings walking upright.

When did Mary Leakey begin her professional life as an archaeologist?

Mary started going on archaeological excavations at 17 with illustrator Dorothy Liddell and became a paleoanthropologist.

What is Zinjanthropus boisei?

Paranthropus boisei, also known as Zinjanthropus boisei, is an early man species that Mary Leakey found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1959.

Who was the husband of Mary Leakey?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What impact did Mary Leakey have on the general understanding of human evolution?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What books did Mary Leakey write?

Mary Leakey authored several works, including Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man and her autobiography Disclosing the Past.

Which awards did Mary Leakey get?

Mary received the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society and the Prestwich Medal of the Geological Society of London.

What did Mary Leakey do after her husband, Louis Leakey, passed on?

Following Louis’s death in 1972, Mary worked in Olduvai Gorge and discovered more fossils, which ensured her place as a prominent paleoanthropologist.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Mary Leakey was a famous British paleoanthropologist whose work contributed to the knowledge of early humans’ evolution. Mary Douglas Nicol, born in 1913 in London, had a passion for archaeology since her childhood, which could be explained by her experience of observing prehistoric paintings in the caves during a family vacation in France. Even after being expelled from several schools, Leakey followed her passion for archaeology and became an illustrator. These skills took her to archaeological digs, and then she joined Gertrude Caton-Thompson in Egypt to polish her techniques. She first worked at the British Museum in 1933 and later met her future husband Louis Leakey in the same year; they married in 1936 and became a powerful husband and wife team devoted to finding out about the early ancestors of man.

Mary Leakey’s most active years were spent in East Africa, particularly Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where she and Louis discovered many fossils. Her discovery of Zinjanthropus boisei, a new early hominid species, in 1959 revolutionized the understanding of humanity’s evolution by placing Africa at the center. She later found the famous Laetoli footprints in 1978, proving that early human ancestors were bipedal 3.6 million years ago. After the death of her husband in 1972, Mary also carried on her work and thus became one of the most renowned paleoanthropologists ever. She also wrote other books, such as Disclosing the Past, an autobiography, and continued contributing to the discipline until she died in 1996.

Quotes

“I dug things up. I was curious. That’s all I could think of doing.”

“The past fascinates me, and I believe it has a lot to teach us about the future.”

“You don’t look at the fossils with a preconceived idea of what you’re going to find.”

“No amount of misfortune will prevent me from digging again tomorrow.”

“It is a wonderful thing to know that the earth preserves its secrets well.”

“What fascinates me most is that we find evidence of human history in the smallest of things.”

“Science is the pursuit of truth, no matter how small the fragments may be.”

“Sometimes the greatest discoveries come from moments of doubt.”

“Africa is where we all began; we are just trying to follow the footsteps.”

“Human evolution is the most important story ever told, and yet it is far from complete.”

“To study fossils is to study time, captured in stone.”

“The Earth gives up its secrets, not willingly, but with patience and persistence.”

“Each discovery opens another door to understanding where we come from.”

“I never felt the need to compare myself to others; I was competing with the past.”

“Discovery is about being patient, observant, and above all, open-minded.”

FAQ

What did Mary Leakey find that made her famous?

Some of Mary Leakey’s significant achievements include the 1959 discovery of the 1.8-million-year-old skull of Zinjanthropus boisei and the 1978 discovery of the Laetoli footprints.

What can be said about Mary Leakey in the context of paleoanthropology?

Mary’s findings in East Africa, especially the fossils she discovered, helped shift paleoanthropological research to Africa.

What were the Laetoli footprints, and who made them?

The Laetoli footprints are a group of fossilized footprints in Tanzania found by Mary Leakey. They provide the earliest evidence for human beings walking upright.

When did Mary Leakey begin her professional life as an archaeologist?

Mary started going on archaeological excavations at 17 with illustrator Dorothy Liddell and became a paleoanthropologist.

What is Zinjanthropus boisei?

Paranthropus boisei, also known as Zinjanthropus boisei, is an early man species that Mary Leakey found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1959.

Who was the husband of Mary Leakey?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What impact did Mary Leakey have on the general understanding of human evolution?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What books did Mary Leakey write?

Mary Leakey authored several works, including Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man and her autobiography Disclosing the Past.

Which awards did Mary Leakey get?

Mary received the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society and the Prestwich Medal of the Geological Society of London.

What did Mary Leakey do after her husband, Louis Leakey, passed on?

Following Louis’s death in 1972, Mary worked in Olduvai Gorge and discovered more fossils, which ensured her place as a prominent paleoanthropologist.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Mary Leakey was a famous British paleoanthropologist whose work contributed to the knowledge of early humans’ evolution. Mary Douglas Nicol, born in 1913 in London, had a passion for archaeology since her childhood, which could be explained by her experience of observing prehistoric paintings in the caves during a family vacation in France. Even after being expelled from several schools, Leakey followed her passion for archaeology and became an illustrator. These skills took her to archaeological digs, and then she joined Gertrude Caton-Thompson in Egypt to polish her techniques. She first worked at the British Museum in 1933 and later met her future husband Louis Leakey in the same year; they married in 1936 and became a powerful husband and wife team devoted to finding out about the early ancestors of man.

Mary Leakey’s most active years were spent in East Africa, particularly Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where she and Louis discovered many fossils. Her discovery of Zinjanthropus boisei, a new early hominid species, in 1959 revolutionized the understanding of humanity’s evolution by placing Africa at the center. She later found the famous Laetoli footprints in 1978, proving that early human ancestors were bipedal 3.6 million years ago. After the death of her husband in 1972, Mary also carried on her work and thus became one of the most renowned paleoanthropologists ever. She also wrote other books, such as Disclosing the Past, an autobiography, and continued contributing to the discipline until she died in 1996.

Quotes

“I dug things up. I was curious. That’s all I could think of doing.”

“The past fascinates me, and I believe it has a lot to teach us about the future.”

“You don’t look at the fossils with a preconceived idea of what you’re going to find.”

“No amount of misfortune will prevent me from digging again tomorrow.”

“It is a wonderful thing to know that the earth preserves its secrets well.”

“What fascinates me most is that we find evidence of human history in the smallest of things.”

“Science is the pursuit of truth, no matter how small the fragments may be.”

“Sometimes the greatest discoveries come from moments of doubt.”

“Africa is where we all began; we are just trying to follow the footsteps.”

“Human evolution is the most important story ever told, and yet it is far from complete.”

“To study fossils is to study time, captured in stone.”

“The Earth gives up its secrets, not willingly, but with patience and persistence.”

“Each discovery opens another door to understanding where we come from.”

“I never felt the need to compare myself to others; I was competing with the past.”

“Discovery is about being patient, observant, and above all, open-minded.”

FAQ

What did Mary Leakey find that made her famous?

Some of Mary Leakey’s significant achievements include the 1959 discovery of the 1.8-million-year-old skull of Zinjanthropus boisei and the 1978 discovery of the Laetoli footprints.

What can be said about Mary Leakey in the context of paleoanthropology?

Mary’s findings in East Africa, especially the fossils she discovered, helped shift paleoanthropological research to Africa.

What were the Laetoli footprints, and who made them?

The Laetoli footprints are a group of fossilized footprints in Tanzania found by Mary Leakey. They provide the earliest evidence for human beings walking upright.

When did Mary Leakey begin her professional life as an archaeologist?

Mary started going on archaeological excavations at 17 with illustrator Dorothy Liddell and became a paleoanthropologist.

What is Zinjanthropus boisei?

Paranthropus boisei, also known as Zinjanthropus boisei, is an early man species that Mary Leakey found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1959.

Who was the husband of Mary Leakey?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What impact did Mary Leakey have on the general understanding of human evolution?

Her findings exposed Africa as man’s birthplace and promoted the study of early human ancestors and ancestors.

What books did Mary Leakey write?

Mary Leakey authored several works, including Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man and her autobiography Disclosing the Past.

Which awards did Mary Leakey get?

Mary received the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society and the Prestwich Medal of the Geological Society of London.

What did Mary Leakey do after her husband, Louis Leakey, passed on?

Following Louis’s death in 1972, Mary worked in Olduvai Gorge and discovered more fossils, which ensured her place as a prominent paleoanthropologist.

Life and achievements

Early life

Mary Leakey was born on February 6, 1913, in London, England, and grew up in a family that was in the habit of moving from one country to another in Europe. Her father was Erskine Nicol, a watercolor painter, and her passion for archaeology began at an early age after being exposed to ancient ruins and prehistoric cave paintings in France. Her passion developed during her family’s travels through Egypt, Italy, and France. Indeed, in this region, in the south of France, she started picking up paleolithic tools and objects and thus developed an interest in archaeology.

Below-average academic performance—Mary was expelled from several schools—did not prevent her from becoming an illustrator and entering archaeology. Her accurate illustrations of the Stone Age implements and fossils acted as her entry ticket to her first dig under the supervision of Dorothy Liddell at Hembury in Devon.

These practical experiences in her early career taught her the precise methods of digging and handling artifacts. This foundation proved invaluable when she encountered Louis Leakey, a charming Kenyan-born paleoanthropologist, in 1933. Their working partnership quickly turned into a romantic one, and in 1936, they got married – beginning a union that would set the course for studying human evolution. They went on several missions across East Africa and later shifted to Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where they made discoveries that revised the human evolution timeline.

Legacy

The paleoanthropology world owes a lot to Mary Leakey. Zinjanthropus boisei (later renamed Paranthropus boisei), found in the Olduvai Gorge in 1959, put her and her husband on the world map. This find and the discovery of the Laetoli footprints later in 1978 made her one of the most essential paleoanthropologists in the study of early human evolution. The Laetoli footprints offered the first clue as to the nature of bipedalism and revolutionized the concept of early hominid evolution. These discoveries put Africa on the map of human evolution research, displacing earlier beliefs that people evolved in Europe or Asia.

Mary also did not only dig at Olduvai; she introduced a method of categorizing the stone tools, which helped analyze early human activities. After Louis’ death, Mary continued with the work, mentoring their son Richard Leakey, who also grew up to be a paleoanthropologist. In addition to her fieldwork, she authored several influential books, including Disclosing the Past, her autobiography, and Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man. She was awarded many awards for her efforts, including the Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society and an honorary doctorate from Yale and Oxford.

Mary Leakey has not only made significant discoveries herself but also contributed immensely to the creation of the field of paleoanthropology and how people learn about human evolution. Gadeb’s legacy continues through her descendants and ongoing research at Olduvai and Laetoli. Reducing her accomplishments to an account of the facts is to miss the extraordinary person and her unique contribution to the study of human origins.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Milestone moments

May 15, 1936

Louis Leakey’s Marriage and Beginning of Professional Relationship
In 1936, Mary wedded Louis Leakey, which initiated their partnership in paleoanthropological research.

Together, their collaboration proved fruitful.
Mary’s meticulous digging capabilities complemented Louis’s more extensive scientific perspectives, resulting in significant discoveries in East Africa.
This was the beginning of one of the most well-known duos of spouses who worked together in the fields of archaeology and paleoanthropology.

May 16, 1948

In this case, a Proconsul africanus skull was discovered.
In 1948, Mary made her first significant fossil discovery on Rusinga Island, Kenya: the fossil of the skull of an extinct ape, Proconsul africanus, which lived 16 million years ago.

This discovery was important as it established one of the first connections between apes and humans, thus affirming Africa’s importance in the evolution of man.
The find started Mary as an independent paleoanthropologist and could be considered a new phase for both the Leakey family and paleoanthropology in general.

May 10, 1959

The discovery of the Zinjanthropus boisei fossil in Olduvai Gorge
The well-preserved skull of Zinjanthropus boisei (Paranthropus boisei since July 17, 1959, by Mary Leakey in the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.

It was dated 1.8 million years ago and provided strong evidence that early hominids occupied East Africa, thus changing the research agenda.
The discovery attracted considerable attention and later facilitated the search for funds for further excavation, making Olduvai Gorge one of the most essential paleoanthropological sites.

Jul 23, 1972

Death of Louis Leakey and Further Research
After her husband Louis’s death in 1972, Mary Leakey took over field research management at Olduvai Gorge.

She remained active in the field and continued to establish her authority in paleoanthropology when Mary started working independently.
She was the one who came across perhaps one of the most critical discoveries in man’s evolution, the Laetoli footprints.

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