1.5-Million-Year-Old Footprints Near Lake Turkana Reveal Early Human Coexistence

Nov 28, 2024, 07:15 PM

Researchers have uncovered muddy fossilized footprints near Lake Turkana in Kenya, providing evidence that two distinct early human species coexisted approximately 1.5 million years ago. The footprints, discovered in 2021, include a trackway of 12 prints attributed to an adult Paranthropus boisei, identified by their unique shape, locomotion style, and size of 10.25 inches. The findings suggest the two species may have passed through the area within hours or days of each other, offering a rare glimpse into their coexistence. This discovery sheds light on the interactions and behaviors of early hominins, marking a significant contribution to the study of human evolution.