Mary Leakey was influenced by several factors in her scientific inquiries, including her background in paleontology and extensive fieldwork in Africa. Collaborating with her husband, Louis Leakey, she participated in groundbreaking excavations in Olduvai Gorge and played a crucial role in discovering early hominid fossils. Her findings helped illuminate human evolution and were complemented by her keen observational skills. Leakey's interdisciplinary approach, integrating archaeology, anthropology, and geology, allowed her to make significant contributions to our understanding of human ancestry.