Leakey the Leakey Family Name Ranks Among the Most Famous in the Fields of Paleoanthropology and Archaeology

Name Class Date Kenneth Garrett/Danita Delimont, Agent/Alamy Delimont, Kenneth Garrett/Danita biography

UNIT 1 Richard Leakey The Leakey family name ranks among the most famous in the fields of paleoanthropology and archaeology. Their discoveries in Africa have provided valuable information about the development of humans. True to his family's tradition, Richard Leakey’s work in eastern Richard Leakey (1944– ) Africa led to the discovery of the earliest fossils of Other exciting finds came when Leakey discovered an modern humans. almost complete 1.6 million-year-old fossil skeleton, which he named “Turkana boy.” Leakey also excavated • Job: Paleontologist 300 skull fragments that he believed represented the remains of earlier humans who lived in eastern Africa • Passion: Wildlife Conservation 3.5 million years ago. He wrote about his findings and • Home: Kenya theories in a book titled The Making of Mankind. Leakey also wrote One Life, a memoir, in 1983, and a second memoir, Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa’s Natural The son of Louis and Mary Leakey, Richard Leakey Treasures, in 2001. was born in 1944 in Nairobi, Kenya. As a young boy, Leakey accompanied his parents on many of their Leakey worked in the field as paleontologist, but also field expeditions. However, instead of following in his in the museum world as the director of the National parents’ footsteps, he became a safari guide. Museums of Kenya from 1968 to 1989. He became active in the fight against elephant and rhinoceros Leakey's career path leading safaris was short lived, poaching and for the protection of Kenya’s national though. On a field expedition in 1967, Leakey came parks. Leakey also pursued a political career and served upon a site in Koobi Fora in Kenya, along Lake Rudolph in the Kenyan parliament. (also known as Lake Turkana) where he found several stone tools. From 1967 to 1977, Leakey and his fellow Leakey retired from politics in 2001, but he remained workers uncovered about 400 fossils of early human active in wildlife conservation. In 2004, he founded remains on that site. The finds included tools from the WildlifeDirect, a nonprofit conservation organization. Stone Age dating back 1.9 million years. Koobi Fora This organization raises awareness about endangered became the site of the most diverse set of early human species and also connects potential financial donors to remains found in the world at that time. various conservation groups.

REVIEW & ASSESS

1. Draw Conclusions What led Richard Leakey to 2. Form and Support Opinions What is Richard pursue a career in archaeology? Leakey’s most important achievement? Support your opinion with details from the reading.