Ancient Laetoli's Footprints: Tracing Human Evolution
Paleoanthropological findings do not consist only of bones and artifacts. Sometimes the presence of early hominids is evidenced by almost intangible, but equally significant, traces. Such is the case with the "Laetoli tracks," footprints perfectly preserved in solidified tuff formed from the ashes of an ancient volcano.
What do these footprints, found at Laetoli in Tanzania, about 45 km south of Olduvai, one of Africa's most important archaeological sites, tell us?
Well ... First, they connect us with the other great mystery, that of Lucy, the small female Australopithecus who lived 400,000 years after the Laetoli individuals.
And then perhaps they tell us something about the organization of early human family units. Which apparently were based on polygamy, just as is in use today among our gorilla cousins.
One amazing discovery after another.