Newly discovered ancient footprints on South Africa s Cape south coast have provided valuable insights into the movement and behavior of our human ancestors.
here s the human footprints. wow! the red deer footprints are slightly younger, because this footprint is probably on at least one if not two layers lower than the red deer foot print. the lower you go, the older you go? yeah. wow. footsteps were preserved here in what was a huge tidal mudflat indentations baked in the sun and then buried. but in this soft sediment, the prints can be eroded away within weeks or days of being exposed to the elements, so the researchers have documented and dated 31 beds of ancient footprints here. digital scans have preserved impressions that have now been washed away forever. it s a year s long study, that s shown the footprints to be much older than thought spanning a timeline from 9,000 years ago when this area was roamed by deer, wild cattle, wolves and lynx. but around 5,500 years
beach are exquisite. one of the beauties of the site is the preservation of the animal and human footprints is excellent. my colleague doctor alison burns has done most of the research, she is on holiday and cannot be here, it s a remarkable site. so holiday and cannot be here, it s a remarkable site. holiday and cannot be here, it s a remarkable site. so how important is this? it is unusual remarkable site. so how important is this? it is unusual because remarkable site. so how important is this? it is unusual because most - this? it is unusual because most footrint this? it is unusual because most footprint beds this? it is unusual because most footprint beds span this? it is unusual because most footprint beds span one - this? it is unusual because most footprint beds span one period l this? it is unusual because most| footprint beds span one period of time that this spans 8000 years, so it tracks from just off the ice age to even a thousand years ago. the oldest beds are mu