OH 24 (Olduvai Hominid No. 24, nicknamed "Twiggy") is a fossilized skull of the species Homo habilis. It was discovered in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania by Peter Nzube in 1968. The skull was found crushed almost flat and was therefore named after the famously skinny model of the time Twiggy. Estimated at 1.8 mya (million years old), the cranium was found crushed flat and cemented together with a mass coating of limestone.[1] It is now a Smithsonian exhibit item.[1]
Originally, there was very little interest placed on the discovery of the skull, but after much effort by scientist Ron Clarke, the skull was finally reconstructed and examined thoroughly. Despite this effort, there still is a good deal of distortion from the fossilization processes that took place. The small cranial capacity estimated at 590-600 cc[2] (cubic centimeters) is in part attributed to this cranial distortion.[3] OH 24's face is described as being prognathic (projecting forward under the nose), as in other fossils from the Homo habilis family, but not quite to the extent of earlier Australopithecus species. Besides manifesting lesser prognathism than the australopithecines, OH 24 also portrays a larger cranial vault, indicating an expansion in brain size from its ancestor, and the reduction of facial prognathisim typical of the evolution of early Homo.[4]
The individual's third molars had erupted, which indicates that OH 24- "Twiggy" was an adult at death. Yet, these molars show no sign of wear (the points on the crowns of the teeth are still sharp, and show little sign of abrasion by rough food matter), indicating that this individual died soon after the eruption of these molars.[5] Like the other fossils of Homo habilis, OH 24 also manifests the slightly small teeth set in a U-shaped arch.
Being one of the oldest fossils of Homo habilis, OH 24 has been used to settle many disputes about splitting some of the early Homo fossils that have been found into Homo rudolfensis and Homo habilis, or lumping them together into one single species, Homo habilis. Some of the highly disputed fossils are KNM-ER 1813 which most agree is a female Homo habilis and KNM-ER 1470 which many argue has various anatomical differences to the previously known Homo habilis fossils that should make it be classified into the Homo rudolfensis species.
^ abSmithsonian (8 May 2014). "OH 24". Retrieved 20 April 2014.
^Johanson, Donald and Blake Edgar (1996). From Lucy to Language. Simon and Schuster Editions. p. 172.
^Johanson D. Donald (1977). "Rethinking the origins of the genus Homo". In R. Duncan & M. Weston-Smith (ed.). Encyclopedia of Ignorance. pp. 243–250.
^Lavenda H. Robert & Schultz A. Emily (2011). Anthropology: What does it mean to be a Human?. Oxford University Press. p. 122.
^Smithsonian (8 May 2014). "OH 24". What does it mean to be a human?.
External linksedit
Media related to OH 24 at Wikimedia Commons
Archaeology Info
January 01, 1970
redirects, here, term, also, refer, ohio, 24th, congressional, district, olduvai, hominid, nicknamed, twiggy, fossilized, skull, species, homo, habilis, discovered, olduvai, gorge, tanzania, peter, nzube, 1968, skull, found, crushed, almost, flat, therefore, n. OH 24 redirects here The term may also refer to Ohio s 24th congressional district OH 24 Olduvai Hominid No 24 nicknamed Twiggy is a fossilized skull of the species Homo habilis It was discovered in Olduvai Gorge Tanzania by Peter Nzube in 1968 The skull was found crushed almost flat and was therefore named after the famously skinny model of the time Twiggy Estimated at 1 8 mya million years old the cranium was found crushed flat and cemented together with a mass coating of limestone 1 It is now a Smithsonian exhibit item 1 TwiggyCatalog no OH 24Common nameTwiggySpeciesHomo habilisAge1 8 myaPlace discoveredOlduvai Gorge TanzaniaDate discovered1968Discovered byPeter Nzube Replica made with a 3D printer Originally there was very little interest placed on the discovery of the skull but after much effort by scientist Ron Clarke the skull was finally reconstructed and examined thoroughly Despite this effort there still is a good deal of distortion from the fossilization processes that took place The small cranial capacity estimated at 590 600 cc 2 cubic centimeters is in part attributed to this cranial distortion 3 OH 24 s face is described as being prognathic projecting forward under the nose as in other fossils from the Homo habilis family but not quite to the extent of earlier Australopithecus species Besides manifesting lesser prognathism than the australopithecines OH 24 also portrays a larger cranial vault indicating an expansion in brain size from its ancestor and the reduction of facial prognathisim typical of the evolution of early Homo 4 The individual s third molars had erupted which indicates that OH 24 Twiggy was an adult at death Yet these molars show no sign of wear the points on the crowns of the teeth are still sharp and show little sign of abrasion by rough food matter indicating that this individual died soon after the eruption of these molars 5 Like the other fossils of Homo habilis OH 24 also manifests the slightly small teeth set in a U shaped arch Being one of the oldest fossils of Homo habilis OH 24 has been used to settle many disputes about splitting some of the early Homo fossils that have been found into Homo rudolfensis and Homo habilis or lumping them together into one single species Homo habilis Some of the highly disputed fossils are KNM ER 1813 which most agree is a female Homo habilis and KNM ER 1470 which many argue has various anatomical differences to the previously known Homo habilis fossils that should make it be classified into the Homo rudolfensis species See also editList of fossil sites with link directory List of hominina hominid fossils with images KNM ER 1813 KNM ER 1470References edit a b Smithsonian 8 May 2014 OH 24 Retrieved 20 April 2014 Johanson Donald and Blake Edgar 1996 From Lucy to Language Simon and Schuster Editions p 172 Johanson D Donald 1977 Rethinking the origins of the genus Homo In R Duncan amp M Weston Smith ed Encyclopedia of Ignorance pp 243 250 Lavenda H Robert amp Schultz A Emily 2011 Anthropology What does it mean to be a Human Oxford University Press p 122 Smithsonian 8 May 2014 OH 24 What does it mean to be a human External links edit nbsp Media related to OH 24 at Wikimedia Commons Archaeology Info Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title OH 24 amp oldid 1153303419, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
