An ancient mystery has been solved as the oldest known footprint of Homo sapiens has been discovered on South Africa’s Cape south coast. The footprint is estimated to be 153,000 years old, making it the oldest ever attributed to our species. This new discovery underscores the fact that early anatomically modern humans survived and thrived on the Cape south coast before they extended their reach to other continents. The international journal of trace fossils, Ichnos, has recently published an article by our research team at the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. We presented the ages of seven newly dated hominin ichnosites found on South Africa’s Cape south coast, which now form part of the “South African cluster” of nine sites. Our team suspects that further hominin ichnosites are waiting to be discovered on the Cape south coast and elsewhere on the coast. The search also needs to be extended to older deposits in the region, ranging in age from 400,000 years to more than 2 million years. We expect the list of ancient hominin ichnosites to be much longer in a decade, which will provide scientists with greater insight into our ancient ancestors and the landscapes they occupied.
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Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
