Oct 31, 2021 15:00:00

What are the possibilities of fossil footprints carved over 6 million years ago?

Even if research progresses and ancient fossils are found more and more, it is difficult to understand how human beings evolved from monkeys. Meanwhile, it has been reported that fossil footprints found in Greece may hold the key to human evolution.

Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete | Scientific Reports

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98618-0

Ancient Tracks May Be The Oldest Hominin Footprints Ever Found, Scientists Say
https://www.sciencealert.com/new-dating-study-argues-these-are-the-oldest-hominin-footprints-ever-found

In 2017, more than 50 footprints were discovered on the Greek island of Crete. Research has concluded that this footprint may have been left by an organism close to hominids about 5.7 million years ago.

However,

a study by a research team at the University of Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen found that the footprints found on Crete are 6.05 million years old.

The oldest fossil of Homo sapiens is about 300,000 years ago, the oldest fossil of Neanderthal is about 430,000 years ago, and the fossil of Australopithecus afarensis 'Lucy ' discovered in 1974 It is said to be about 3 million years old, and the lord of the footprints on Crete Island will be a great senior who goes further.

The research team focused on fossil molars of the primate Graecopithecus freybergi, which is believed to be 7.2 million years old, and points out that it may be related to the footprints of Crete and Graecopithecus freybergi. The fossil of a tooth has been discovered in 2017, as a result of the investigation, rather than a monkey hominina is, Graecopithecus freybergi has been found to be the ancestor of a different person is a chimpanzee, monkeys and humans It is expected that it is a missing link that connects the two.

'The footprints of Crete contain features that are thought to be unique to hominids,' said Madeleine Böhm, a member of the research team. The shape of the foot should have evolved, and it is possible to analyze how far the evolution has progressed by the footprints. '

According to Mr. Böhm, the presence of finger balls on the forefoot, hallux valgus, and the gradual shortening of the 2nd to 4th fingers are characteristics found in hominids. .. On the other hand, it is said that the general characteristics of primates are that the feet do not have an arch on the inside, the soles are short, and the heels are not bulbous.

Currently, the mainstream theory is that 'human ancestors came from Africa', but the discovery of the fossil footprints in Greece may have led to the evolution of the oldest hominids in the Eurasian continent. Suggests.