News Anthropology

Africa’s biggest collection of ancient human footprints has been found

Hundreds of fossilized impressions are providing a glimpse into ancient human behavior

Ol Doinyo Lengai

This volcano in East Africa, called Ol Doinyo Lengai, erupted long ago and produced a mudflow that preserved the biggest collection of ancient human footprints (some shown in the foreground) found in Africa so far.

Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce

By Bruce Bower

More than 400 human footprints preserved in hardened volcanic sediment are providing a rare peek at social life among ancient East African hunter-gatherers.