Laetoli Footprints

These diagrams were prepared from stereo-photographs of a fossil (left) and modern male (right) footprint, showing their remarkable similarity.

The contours show the various pressures exerted when walking - the darker the colour the deeper the impression. Note the presence of a deep heel print and a foot arch in both.

These diagrams suggests that the australopithecines walked in much the same way as we do, with a kind of striding walk.

Since these ancient footprints were made 3.75 million years ago by Australopithecus afarensis, human walking must have evolved a long time before the large human brain.