Researchers have discovered 1.5 million year old footprints in Kenya, proving that two pre-human species lived together. These tracks suggest that two species might have interacted and raise new questions regarding the behavior of our ancient ancestors.
“I would expect the two species would have been aware of each other’s existence on that landscape, and they probably would have recognized each other as being ‘different,'” Kevin Hatala Live Science received an email from a Paleoanthropologist of Chatham University, Pennsylvania.
Hatala headed a group of researchers that analyzed footprints found in Koobi Fora, on the east shore of Lake Turkana. Scientists published their findings in the Journal of Science on Thursday, November 28. Scientists are able to explain the origins of science .
East Africa has produced a number of fossilized footprints, including the Famous trackway at Laetoli, Tanzania, made by Lucy’s species Australopithecus Afarensis Researchers noticed something unique about the Koobi Fora trackway: Two bipeds with significantly different feet made the tracks along lake margin within hours of one another. Researchers noticed something special about the Koobi Fora tracks: two bipeds, with feet that were significantly different from one another, made them within hours.
Over the course of 3 million years at Koobi Fora, several hominins species lived there. These included two different types of Australopithecines as well as four other members of the Homo genus. Paleoanthropologists were unable to determine the hominins that lived in the same area at the same time because of the incomplete fossil record.
Koobi Fora’s newly-discovered footprint trail measures about 8 meters (26 feet) and includes a trackway made up of 12 footprints left by one person and 3 more made by other individuals. A giant extinct marabou stork (Leptoptilos falconeri(also tracked through wet mud that was quickly buried and preserved.
Hatala, along with his colleagues, used 3D image techniques to assess the movement and shape of the tracksetters’ feet. The researchers found two isolated tracks with high arches, and the same heel-to-toe movement as modern humans. The footprints are likely to be those of our direct ancestor H. erectusIt had an almost human body size and shape.
The trackway revealed by a dozen prints showed a completely different pattern. The tracks of a dozen footprints were flatter, and the forefoot was struck deeper than the heel. Researchers also noted that the toes were not aligned with each other as they are in human tracks, and that their big toes appeared somewhat spread apart. Paranthropus boisei Australopithecines are large-jawed and have a divergent toe.
A view from above of the fossil footprint left by Homo erectus. Image credit: Kevin G. Hatala (Chatham University).
Hatala explained that the size of the footprints varied but there was not enough data to tell if the tracks were made by children or adults. These twelve footprints were created by an P. boisei He said that the individual would have been a U.S. size 10 or 8.5 shoe for women, but not a man. H. erectus Footprints are smaller. They range from a size 6 for men to 4 for women.
Zach Throckmorton In an email, Live Science received a statement from a Paleoanthropologist who is not associated with the study. “Hatala and colleagues’ comparisons of foot impressions provide compelling and convincing evidence of the coexistence of Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei at Koobi Fora in Kenya about 1.5 million years ago.” Throckmorton says that the stability of the big toe plays a key role in allowing humans to run and walk without experiencing foot pain. “the less modern human-like trackway attributed to P. boisei lacks this critical adaptation.”
Footprints reveal important differences in anatomical structure, but also the behaviors of our hominin relatives.
“Footprints are a snapshot of a moment in time,” Jeremy DeSilva Live Science received an email from a Dartmouth College paleoanthropologist who wasn’t involved with the study. The new findings are significant. “we now know with certainty that these two different kinds of hominins not only lived at the same time, but they shared the same landscape and walked with slightly different gaits,” DeSilva stated. “I wonder what they thought of each other and how they interacted, if at all.”
Interaction between P. boisei You can also find out more about the following: H. erectus Hatala suggested that the creatures may have been similar to gorillas or chimpanzees — both of which have been observed engaging in Positive You can also find out more about the following: negative social interactions . The newfound tracks were found within just a few meters of each other and within the same time frame. P. boisei You can also find out more about the following: H. erectus We may be closer to the truth than we thought.
“It is fascinating to think about what they would have thought when they saw each other, and how they would have interacted,” Hatala said.
Kristina Kilgrove, a Live Science staff writer, focuses on news about archaeology. She has also published articles in Forbes, Smithsonian and Mental Floss. Killgrove has postgraduate degrees from the University of California in both anthropology, and classical archaeology. She was also a professor at a local university and a researcher. Her science writing has been recognized by the American Anthropological Association and Society for American Archaeology.
