Laetolispåren

Laetolispåren, often translated as Laetoli footprints, are a significant fossilized trackway of early hominins located in Laetoli, Tanzania. Discovered in 1978 by a team led by Mary Leakey, these footprints provide crucial evidence for bipedal locomotion in ancient hominins. The trackway consists of multiple sets of footprints preserved in volcanic ash that fell approximately 3.6 million years ago.

The most famous of these are the so-called "Footprint Trail F," attributed to Australopithecus afarensis, a species that also includes the famous fossil "Lucy." The size and shape of these footprints, particularly the presence of an arch and a non-divergent big toe, strongly suggest that these early hominins walked upright much like modern humans. The depth of the footprints indicates a considerable weight for the individuals making them.

The Laetoli site is geologically significant due to the volcanic activity that preserved these delicate traces. The ash layers, derived from the nearby Sadiman volcano, acted as a rapid burial mechanism, protecting the footprints from erosion and decay. Subsequent rains hardened the ash, and further ashfalls preserved the impressions.

The discovery of Laetolispåren has been instrumental in understanding the evolution of bipedalism, a key trait that defines the hominin lineage. It pushes back the timeline for habitual upright walking significantly, suggesting it was well-established before the development of larger brains. The Laetoli footprints remain a cornerstone of paleoanthropological research.