ROME, ITALY—The Local, Italy, reports that archaeologists from Sapienza University have discovered fossilized footprints in Eritrea that may have been made by Homo erectus some 800,000 years ago. The individual may have been stalking a gazelle-like animal whose footprints were also preserved in the trackway. “Their age is yet to be confirmed with certainty, but footprints will reveal a lot about the evolution of man, because they provide vital information about our ancestors’ gait and locomotion,” said lead archaeologist Alfredo Coppa. The footprints are thought to have been made along the shores of a large lake, and were probably filled with water, then eventually dried out and buried. The remains of five or six Homo erectus individuals have also been found in the area. For more on ancient footprints, go to "Proof in the Prints."
