Earliest footprints found in Kenya

The footprints, dated to between 1.51 million and 1.53 million years ago, were discovered in sedimentary rockFootprints found on a sandy plain in eastern Africa have been hailed by scientists as the earliest evidence of modern upright walking.The footprints, dated to between 1.51m and 1.53m years ago, were discovered in sedimentary rock at Ileret, Kenya, researchers report in today's edition of the journal Science.The findings mark one of the most important discoveries in recent years regarding the evolution of human walking.With a large toe parallel to the other toes, the prints indicate a modern upright stride, the researchers said. They are likely to have been made by the early hominid Homo ergaster or early Homo erectus.The series of footprints, including one apparently from a child, were left by individuals walking on a muddy river bank. Judging from stride length, they estimated the individuals were about 5ft 9in tall."It was kind...

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