A relatively recent finding in Kenya has strengthened the theory that various human species interacted with one another millions of years ago.
A discovery in Kenya provides evidence of interaction among different human species. Footprints of Paranthropus boisei and Homo erectus, dating back 1.5 million years, were found near Lake Turkana. These footprints suggest potential coexistence and the likelihood of hunting and gathering activities.
The discovery at Koobi Fora, a muddy lakeshore in northern Kenya, revealed that two distinct human species, Paranthropus boisei and Homo erectus, walked alongside each other approximately 1.5 million years ago, with their footprints found among those of antelopes, horses, warthogs, large storks, and other animals.
As reported by Reuters, these footprints were uncovered by researchers near Lake Turkana in 2021. By analyzing their shape and movement patterns, the team identified a single, continuous trackway consisting of twelve footprints, each measuring about 10.25 inches (26 cm) long, all attributed to an adult Paranthropus boisei individual.
Three isolated footprints, slightly perpendicular to the main trackway, resembled those of modern humans and measured between 8 to 9.25 inches (20.5-23.5 cm) in length. Two of these were complete enough to likely be identified as young Homo erectus, while it was more challenging to definitively classify the third.
“The fossil footprints give us a vivid snapshot of that moment in time, 1.5 million years ago. Different human ancestors may have passed each other, wading through shallow water, possibly engaged in hunting and gathering,” stated paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey, director of the Koobi Fora Research Project and co-author of the study published on Thursday in the journal Science.
Researchers noted that the mud had never dried or cracked, suggesting the trackways were left within a few hours or days. It’s also possible that the individuals may have seen one another, although there was no evidence of any interaction.
“We believe that these individuals from the two species present would likely have been aware of each other’s presence. They would have seen one another and recognized their differences as distinct species, which raises intriguing questions about the nature of their interactions,” said Kevin Hatala, an associate professor of biology at Chatham University and a lead author of the research.
Paranthropus boisei
According to scientists, this human species lived in East Africa between approximately 2.3 and 1.2 million years ago. It belongs to the genus Paranthropus, often referred to as “robust australopithecines” due to their adaptations for heavy chewing.
Paranthropus boisei is not considered a direct ancestor of modern humans but rather a close relative that represents a side branch of the hominin evolutionary tree. Its lineage eventually became extinct.
Homo erectus is an extinct hominin species that existed from approximately 1.9 million to 110,000 years ago. It is considered one of the most successful and widely distributed early human species, believed to have originated in Africa before spreading to Asia and potentially Europe.
Homo erectus is closely associated with the Acheulean tool culture, characterized by bifacial hand axes and other stone tools that signify significant technological advancements over earlier Oldowan tools.
Evidence suggests that H. erectus used tools for hunting, killing animals, and processing plant resources.
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