Thirty-three years ago the remains of Homo habilis, the earliest member of our genus, were excavated from [M 003 / Olduvai Gorge] in the southeastern portion of the ecosystem. The fossilized bones and stone tools found with the remains indicate early man was both predator and scavenger in the region.
Evidence suggests that animals the size of wildebeest and larger were killed by large predators, such as saber-toothed cats, hyenas and lions. Early man many have scavenged the remains. Since modern-day lions and hyenas consume their kills quickly and nearly completely leaving little flesh behind, it could be only bone marrow was obtained through scavenging. The remains of smaller animals the size of gazelles indicate that they were butchered with cutting tools. The smaller animals were probably hunted rather than scavenged.
More recently, remains found in Olduvai Gorge suggests modern man's ancestors may date back over 3 million years. Fossil evidence of modern man, Homo sapiens, in the region date to 17,000 years ago.
