Mary Leakey

Date of Birth: February 6, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 9, 1996

Biography

Mary Leakey was a renowned British paleoanthropologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of early human evolution. She was born as Mary Douglas Nicol on February 6, 1913, in London, England. Mary grew up traveling extensively with her family, which nurtured her early interest in archaeology and ancient history. She studied at the University of London and began her career working on archaeological digs in Europe. Mary’s most significant work was conducted in East Africa, where she joined her husband, Louis Leakey, in the search for early human ancestors. In 1959, at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Mary made a groundbreaking discovery of a hominid skull known as Zinjanthropus boisei (now Paranthropus boisei), which provided compelling evidence of early human life in Africa. Over her career, she discovered numerous fossils and stone tools that were crucial to understanding human evolution. Mary continued her work even after Louis’s death in 1972, making another significant discovery in 1978 at Laetoli, Tanzania. Here, she uncovered a series of hominid footprints preserved in volcanic ash, which were dated to be about 3.6 million years old, providing direct evidence of bipedalism in early human ancestors. Mary Leakey passed away on December 9, 1996, in Nairobi, Kenya. Her legacy continues to influence the field of paleoanthropology, and she is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the study of human origins.

5 Interesting Facts about Mary Leakey

1. Mary Leakey was the first person to describe the Proconsul africanus skull, an important fossil in human evolutionary studies.

2. She never completed a formal degree but became one of the most respected figures in paleoanthropology through her fieldwork and discoveries.

3. Mary and Louis Leakey’s discoveries were pivotal in establishing Africa as the cradle of humankind.

4. She published several influential books, including “Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man” and “Disclosing the Past”.

5. Mary Leakey’s work at Laetoli revealed the oldest known footprints of early human ancestors, demonstrating their ability to walk upright.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Leakey

1. “No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”

2. “I never felt interpretation was my job. I had no desire to be a great name in science. I wanted to find things out.”

3. “I had never passed a single school exam, and clearly never would. I had had no formal training in archaeology.”

4. “I dug things up. I was curious. I liked to find out what things were and why they were.”

5. “Theories come and go, but fundamental data always remain the same.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mary Leakey’s exact net worth was never publicly disclosed, but her contributions to science were invaluable. Her financial worth is less significant compared to her monumental impact on paleoanthropology.

Children

Mary Leakey had three sons with Louis Leakey: 1. Jonathan Leakey – A businessman and former paleoanthropologist. 2. Richard Leakey – A prominent paleoanthropologist and conservationist. 3. Philip Leakey – A politician and former Member of Parliament in Kenya.