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4h ago

Nature Study Links 3.4-Million-Year-Old ‘Burtele Foot’ to Australopithecus deyiremeda

Fresh fossil analyses point to distinct walking mechanics plus a tree‑leaning diet.

On the left are eight foot bones and on the right are the same foot bones over an outline of a gorilla foot
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'Lucy' Was Neighbors With an Even Older Human Ancestor, Fossils Reveal
The new research could raise about the status of the famous Australopithecus afarensis skeleton 'Lucy'

Overview

  • Researchers report a jaw with 12 teeth, pelvic fragments, and juvenile material from Woranso‑Mille that connect the long‑mysterious foot to A. deyiremeda.
  • Fossils of A. deyiremeda and A. afarensis were recovered within a few kilometers in Ethiopia, indicating local coexistence about 3.3–3.4 million years ago.
  • The Burtele foot shows a grasping, opposable big toe for climbing yet evidence of bipedal walking that relied on push‑off from the second toe.
  • Carbon‑isotope measurements from tooth enamel indicate a C3‑heavy diet from trees and shrubs for A. deyiremeda, contrasting with A. afarensis’ broader mixed C3/C4 intake.
  • Some experts remain unconvinced that the foot and dental remains represent a distinct species or firm association, and ongoing work at Woranso‑Mille aims to resolve the debate.