1913-1996

British Archaeologist and Anthropologist

Mary Leakey made several major archaeological discoveries that shed light on the origins and prehistory of humans. Working both individually and with her husband Louis Leakey (1903-1972) in Africa, her ceaseless excavations resulted in significant contributions to archaeology, geology, and paleontology.

Born Mary Nicol in London, England, Leakey had an interesting childhood. Since her father was a painter by profession, the family moved from town to town and country to country. Her future began to take shape when she was 11 years old and living in the Dordogne in France. It was there that she met Abbe Lemozi, who was in the midst of an archaeological dig at the Cabrerets. She found the adventure exciting and began to read and study the importance of recovering ancient artifacts. When her father died in 1926, she was determined to pursue studies in prehistory...