For the first time, scientists have found direct evidence of two ancient hominin species living in the same place at the same time, revealing unprecedented insights into human evolution.
The discovery comprises a well-preserved set of footprints on the shore of Lake Turkana, Kenya, dated to 1.5 million years ago. These tracks belonged to the humanlike Homo erectus and the apelike Paranthropus boisei, showing they coexisted and possibly interacted.
The footprints provide a vivid snapshot of their lives, detailing differences in their walking styles and bipedal evolution. H. erectus footprints suggest a modern human-like gait optimized for long-distance travel, while P. boisei’s flatter footprints resemble a transitional form between chimpanzees and humans.
This discovery challenges previous ideas about hominin competition and evolution. Despite sharing a habitat, the two species likely exploited different resources due to dietary differences, raising questions about what drove Homo’s distinct evolutionary path.
Study co-author Dr. Neil T. Roach emphasized the significance of the footprints, noting that they reveal a level of spatial and temporal resolution unattainable from fossils alone.
Published in Science, this groundbreaking research may prompt a rethinking of how the Homo genus interacted with its relatives.