Discovered: The fossil footprints of three Australopithecines were discovered in 1978 during a palaeontological expedition led by Dr. Mary Leakey. The prints, partly exposed through erosion, were found at the site of Laetoli, to the south of the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The two 27.5 meter long trails of footprints were created in moist volcanic ash which later hardened because of drying and chemical changes.
Specimens: The three individuals represented by the footprints were called G1, G2 and G3. G1 (38 footprints) was quite short at only 1.22 meter or less in height. Individuals G2 and G3 were larger, G3 following almost but not quite, in the 31 footprints of G2. Significance: The well-preserved hominid footprints impressed in the volcanic ash could be used to describe locomotor patterns of A. afarensis. Features of the footprints included:
Species: A. afarensis Age: 3.8 to 3.5 mya |