The discovery of ancient footprints in eastern Africa has shed new light on the behavior and lifestyle of our ancestors. Researchers have found that two different species of hominins, Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, coexisted at the same time and place 1.5 million years ago.
The oldest set of tracks was discovered in 1978 by a team led by Dr. Behrensmeyer and paleoecologist Léo Laporte. They found seven footprints in a line, showing that one hominin had walked eastward out of softer mud onto a harder surface. The tracks were later excavated and documented.
In contrast to previously described hominin tracks in the same region, this new set of tracks indicates that Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei coexisted for at least 200,000 years. The discovery is significant because it reveals that these two species interacted closely, possibly even within minutes of each other.
The lake margin habitat where the footprints were found offered a rich source of food, including reeds, freshwater bivalves, fish, birds, and reptiles. However, the presence of crocodiles and hippos posed a risk to bipedal primates 4 or 5 feet tall. It is unclear how the two species interacted, but future excavations may provide new clues.
The discovery has also led to the development of a museum in Ileret, where visitors can see a large number of 1.5-million-year-old hominin footprints on one excavated surface. The museum is designed to prevent erosion and protect the site from seasonal rains. A community outreach and education center aims to engage local educational groups and young people in learning about this exceptional record of human prehistory.
The discovery of these ancient footprints reveals new insights into our early relatives’ behavior, lifestyle, and interactions. It is a significant contribution to the field of paleoanthropology and highlights the importance of continued research and excavation in understanding human evolution.
Source: https://theconversation.com/fossilized-footprints-reveal-2-extinct-hominin-species-living-side-by-side-1-5-million-years-ago-244624