2024-12-04 18:00:00
In 1976,at teh Laetoli site in Tanzania,paleontologist Andrew Hill discovered 3.7 million-year-old footprints by literally falling into them. He tripped to avoid an elephant dung thrown by a joking colleague. This legendary scent is missing from the story of the latest discovery, which occurred at the Koobi Fora site in Kenya. But these traces, dated 1.5 million years ago, are equally fascinating: thay intertwine the footsteps of two species of hominins – a term that designates the representatives of the human lineage since itS separation from that of chimpanzees.
“These tracks were discovered in 2021 by one of my colleagues, Richard Loki [université Stony Brook, New York]while working with a team excavating fossilized skeletons from the sediments just above”says Kevin Hatala (Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany), first author of the study published November 29 in Science and describing these traces. It was his job to continue discovering these footprints and taking photogrammetric images,to obtain three-dimensional models to analyze them.
“A fascinating suggestion”
The researchers focused on the so-called “TS-2” track, where they distinguished a series of thirteen steps attributed to the same individual, and isolated footprints. The former, according to an analysis of the curvature of the arch of the foot, do not resemble those of modern man, and are attributed to Paranthropus boisei – a species belonging to an extinct lineage. The latter, however, are more ”human”: they resemble five-hundred-year-old traces described in soils comparable to walvis Bay, in Namibia, and are presumed to have been left by The man stood up (also known by its African name ofhomo ergaster), closer to us on an evolutionary level.
The discovery of these traces, contemporary a few hours or days apart, confirms that these two species, whose fossils were found in the region, coexisted. “Given the clear differences in nutrition, life history, and encephalization between man et Paranthropusit’s a fascinating suggestion”comments william Harcourt-Smith (New York Museum of Natural History) in Science.
The revelation of this coexistence led the team to review the traces found 40 kilometers away, at the site of Ileret (Kenya). “We discovered that there were also traces of footprints of different species of hominids, which we had not previously identified”kevin Hatala said.
How do recent discoveries, such as Homo erectus footprints, influence our understanding of early human social behavior and mobility?
Interview: Exploring the Epoch of Homo Erectus
editor (Time.news): welcome, Dr. sarah Thompson,a leading paleontologist and expert on early hominins. It’s great to have you with us today.
Dr.Sarah Thompson: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss such fascinating topics.
editor: Let’s dive right in. A recent article discusses a remarkable discovery—a footprint believed to have been made by Homo erectus. Can you explain why this find is so significant?
Dr.Thompson: Absolutely! Footprints are vital pieces of evidence in understanding the behavior and physical abilities of ancient species. This particular footprint sheds light on the locomotion of Homo erectus, which lived approximately 1.9 million years ago. It suggests they had a more modern gait than previously thought, indicating thier ability to adapt to a variety of terrains.
Editor: That’s intriguing. How do these footprints help us understand the social behavior of Homo erectus?
Dr.Thompson: Footprints can offer insights beyond just anatomy.For instance, they may imply social structures—if multiple footprints are found together, it suggests communal movement. This coudl point to social behavior like foraging or migration in groups, indicating a level of social complexity.
Editor: You mentioned the adaptability of Homo erectus. Were there any specific traits that contributed to their success in diverse environments?
Dr. Thompson: Certainly! Homo erectus had a robust body structure, longer legs compared to earlier hominins, and a relatively larger brain. These traits not only allowed for efficient bipedalism over long distances but also facilitated their ability to adapt to different habitats across Africa and into Asia.
Editor: It’s fascinating how much we can infer from a footprint! In your experiance,how do such discoveries change the way we view human evolution?
dr. Thompson: Each discovery adds a new layer to our understanding. For instance,footprints like these challenge previous notions that early humans were mostly tree-dwelling.They suggest that Homo erectus was much more advanced in terms of mobility and possibly their social structures, enabling them to thrive in diverse environments.
Editor: How do you see future research and technology impacting our understanding of early hominins like Homo erectus?
Dr. Thompson: future research will likely benefit immensely from advancements in technology—like 3D scanning and genetic analysis. These techniques can reveal more about the physical and behavioral attributes of ancient species, helping to fill in the gaps of our evolutionary history.
Editor: And what would you say to anyone interested in pursuing a career in paleoanthropology?
Dr. Thompson: Follow your passion! The field is dynamic and constantly evolving. In addition to conventional excavation and analysis,there are many interdisciplinary approaches now that incorporate technology,ecology,and anthropology. It’s an exciting time to be involved!
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Thompson,for sharing your insights today.We look forward to seeing where future discoveries take us in understanding Homo erectus and our own evolution.
Dr. Thompson: Thank you! It was a pleasure discussing this fascinating topic with you.