Specimens
1,000
Fossil primate collection
Proconsul africanus skull from the Miocene era (around 18 million years ago), discovered on Rusinga Island, Kenya
Species
96
Restricted access to the collection
As we prepare to relocate 28 million specimens to our new science facility at Thames Valley Science Park, we must stop some of our usual activities until further notice. We will no longer be able to approve loans, receive visitors or fulfil collection-based enquiries in the anthropology collection from 1 September 2025.
This does not affect any existing commitments, bookings or visits and enquiries from descendant communities or relating to requests for the return of human remains. These restrictions are temporary, and dates for when access to the collections will recommence will be shared as soon as they are available.
Our Digital Collections are openly accessible as always via our Data Portal, where over six million of our specimens have been digitised and released online, with more data being added every week.
The Museum's fossil primate collection contains around 1,000 original specimens and casts, representing 96 of the approximately 500 recognised species of fossil primate.
The collection contains several holotype fossils, including:
- Sivapithecus
- Procynocephalus
- two species of Proconsul
Notable sub-collections include:
- a collection of subfossil lemur remains from Madagascar
- a series of fossil teeth from the Miocene site of Bursa-Paşalar in Turkey (supported by a further collection of casts), representing Griphopithecus alpani and Kenyapithecus kizilli
Accessing the fossil primate collection
Access to the fossil primate collection for academic research is restricted to academic researchers affiliated to universities and associated institutions. Please contact the curator for further information if you would like to apply for access.
Opportunities for employment, work experience and volunteering in the anthropology collections are advertised on the Museum jobs page.
Looking for a specimen?
The primate collection is being digitised
Curator
Collections management
Our duty is to provide a safe and secure environment for all of our collections.