Oldest human footprints discovered in Kenya
Scientists in northern Kenya discovered a set of footprints estimated to be 1.5 million years old.
The rare find suggests that one of our earliest ancestors, the Homo ergaster, had a modern foot anatomy and gait much more recently than scientists believed, reported ABC News.
Scientists found four sets of adult footprints as well as a possible child's footprint near Ileret, Kenya. The area also contained animal footprints, such as antelopes, said the Sydney Morning Herald.
The footprints all had short toes, a big toe that was parallel to the others and a high arch. These qualities show evidence of a modern gait.
Until now, the only other footprints discovered were 3.7 million-year-old impressions discovered by Mary Leaky in Tanzania. The older footprints are believed to belong to a less modern hominid, Australopithecus afarensis, who walked upright but is believe to be a closer relative to the ape than to the modern human.
The prints have been reburied for a future excavation in the summer. The team of scientists have been working with the Kenya National Museum to keep the site protected.