1.5-Million-Year-Old Footprints Reveal Coexistence of Two Early Human Species

New fossil evidence from Kenya shows Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei shared habitats and paths, offering unprecedented insights into early human behavior.

Fossilized footprints found near Lake Turkana in Kenya provide the first direct evidence of two early human species coexisting in the same location 1.5 million years ago.
The tracks, attributed to Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, were made within hours or days of each other, suggesting shared use of the environment.
Advanced 3D imaging revealed distinct walking patterns, with Homo erectus footprints resembling modern human gait and Paranthropus boisei showing unique foot mechanics.
The findings highlight how these species may have adapted to coexist by utilizing different resources in the lake margin habitat, avoiding excessive competition.
This discovery expands the understanding of early hominin behavior and demonstrates the value of trace fossils in studying ancient interactions and locomotion.