Researchers have made a significant advancement by unearthing fossils believed to be 1.5 million years old.
While scientific breakthroughs are common, this particular find is particularly exciting as it provides new insights into the behaviors of our early human ancestors.
These ancestors, referred to as hominins, lived in ways that were vastly different from our own.
According to a press release issued on Thursday (28 November), the research team has discovered two sets of hominin footprints.
Importantly, the footprints found along the ancient shoreline of a lake in Kenya are believed to have been created around the same period.
Kevin Hatala, a biology associate professor at Chatham University, commented: “Fossil footprints are exciting because they provide vivid snapshots that bring our fossil relatives to life.”
“With these kinds of data, we can see how living individuals, millions of years ago, were moving around their environments and potentially interacting with each other, or even with other animals. That’s something that we can’t really get from bones or stone tools.”
The detailed findings are available in the journal Science, and these footprints represent the first instance of two sets of hominin footprints identified as being from the same time period.
Craig Feibel of Rutgers University points out that while there’s no certainty the two sets of footprints crossed paths, the possibility exists.
Even if they didn’t meet, the expert suggests they could have passed through the Lake Turkana area just hours apart.
The team utilized 3D analysis techniques to differentiate between the two sets of footprints in their discovery.
Rebecca Ferrell, a program director at the National Science Foundation, explained: “In biological anthropology, we’re always interested in finding new ways to extract behavior from the fossil record, and this is a great example.”
“The team used cutting-edge 3D imaging technologies to create an entirely new way to look at footprints, which helps us understand human evolution and the roles of cooperation and competition in shaping our evolutionary journey.”
This recent discovery, categorized as ‘trace fossils’, provides insights into footprints, nests, and burrows.
However, Feibel highlights the difference of these footprints since they cannot be relocated like bones or other body fossils.
He noted: “This proves beyond any question that not only one, but two different hominins were walking on the same surface, literally within hours of each other.”
“The idea that they lived contemporaneously may not be a surprise. But this is the first time demonstrating it. I think that’s really huge.”