Two Early Human Species Coexisted 1.5 Million Years Ago
Fossilized footprints from two different early human species, one of which is a human ancestor, have been discovered in Kenya. These footprints were made around 1.5 million years ago along the shoreline of a lake, providing valuable insights into the coexistence of these hominin species.
Kevin Hatala, a paleoanthropologist at Chatham University, led the study published in Science that unveiled this groundbreaking discovery. The footprints were found in 2021 near Lake Turkana in Kenya, an area known for yielding crucial fossils related to human evolution over the years.
Insights from Fossilized Footprints
Upon examination, Hatala observed that some footprints resembled those of modern humans, while others looked more primitive. The modern-looking footprints were attributed to Homo erectus, an ancestor of modern humans that lived between 1.89 million and 110,000 years ago.
On the other hand, the footprints made by Paranthropus boisei, an upright hominin species closely related to the Homo genus, were distinct. The footprints were determined to have been made within a few hours of each other, indicating that both species coexisted in the region.
Implications of Coexistence
This discovery sheds light on the interactions between Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei. It suggests that these early human species shared the same natural resources for food, potentially scavenging together for meat or collecting edible plants.
Geologist Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce of Appalachian State University finds this discovery fascinating, highlighting the importance of preserved footprints in understanding ancient human behavior. Similarly, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner emphasizes the significance of fossil footprints in capturing snapshots of our ancestors’ daily lives.
In conclusion, the coexistence of Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei provides valuable insights into early human interactions and behaviors. This discovery opens up new avenues for research on human evolution and the dynamics between different hominin species in ancient times.
