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Leakey

Syllabification: (Lea·key)
Pronunciation: /ˈlēkē/

Definition of Leakey
  • the name of a family of Kenyan archaeologists and anthropologists.
  • Louis (Seymour Bazett) (1903–72), born in Kenya of British parents. He pioneered the investigation of human origins in East Africa. In excavations at Olduvai Gorge, he and his wife discovered the remains of early hominids, including Australopithecus (or Zinjanthropus) boisei, and their implements in 1959.
  • Mary (Douglas) (1913–96), Louis’s wife, born in England. She discovered Homo habilis and Homo erectus at Olduvai in 1960.
  • Richard (Erskine) (1944-), the son of Louis and Mary, born in Kenya. He was director of the Kenya Wildlife Service 1989–94 and is noted for his efforts against elephant poaching.

Leakey in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Leakey in the British & World English dictionary

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