Scientists have discovered what is one of the earliest evidence of humans outside of Africa in Happisburgh, UK. Published in the Plos One Journal, the authors say it is the oldest known human footprints and ages between 1 million and 0.78 million years.
In the absence of skeletons, footprints can provide critical information about posture, size and even the type of creatures that existed. Additionally, such information when preserved well can also give insights into number of individuals, their sex, age range and even activities they involved in.
These footprints are direct evidence of human occupation of in Northern Europe. Dr. Nick Ashton of the Britain Museum told BBC News, the footprints are "one of the most important discoveries, if not the most important discovery that has been made on [Britain's] shores... It will rewrite our understanding of the early human occupation of Britain and indeed of Europe"
The images were recorded last year May with multi-image photogrametry. It showed that the prints fell within the range of children to adult foot sizes. In one particular case, toe impressions were seen. The direction of the prints also showed the inhabitants were moving in a southerly direction along the river edge. Most reports of early Pleistocene humans have been reported in Africa and are very rare in Europe. The paper said, the only known species in western Europe of a similar age is Homo antecessor who's remains were found in Spain.
The researchers hope that looking at people today in their everyday activities may provide more evidence of these early humans.
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