###

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have uncovered fossilized footprints near Lake Turkana in Kenya, revealing that two distinct species of early human ancestors once traversed the same terrain approximately 1.5 million years ago. This remarkable find offers unprecedented insights into the interactions and habitats of these ancient hominins.

Researchers from Rutgers University and Chatham University identified footprints belonging to Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, two prominent species of the Pleistocene Epoch. The footprints, which intersect on a savanna near the lake, mark the first time such clear evidence has been found of two different hominin species coexisting and potentially interacting in the same locale.

The study, published in the journal *Science*, provides concrete proof that these species shared both time and space as they faced the challenges of ancient African landscapes. Associate Professor Kevin Hatala of Chatham University, an expert in foot anatomy, described fossil footprints as exciting "snapshots" that allow researchers to discern ancient behaviors and environmental interactions that skeletal fossils alone cannot reveal.

Craig Feibel, a professor at Rutgers University who has been studying fossils in northern Kenya since the 1980s, applied stratigraphy and dating techniques to confirm the geological age of the footprints. His analysis showed that the tracks were made within hours of each other, cementing their significance as evidence of contemporaneous activity.

The footprints were discovered in 2021 by a team led by renowned paleontologist Louise Leakey, in collaboration with local Kenyan experts. The find occurred as the team was excavating for fossil bones, with the first hominin footprint identified by excavator Richard Loki. The subsequent excavation in July 2022 uncovered an extensive surface of preserved tracks.

The research process involved the use of cutting-edge 3D imaging technology to analyze the footprints, enabling a detailed understanding of the anatomical and locomotion differences between the two species. This innovative approach was crucial in distinguishing the footprints and interpreting their significance.

Rebecca Ferrell from the National Science Foundation, which funded part of the research, highlighted the importance of this method in advancing the field of biological anthropology. By extracting behavioral insights from fossil records, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of human evolution and the dynamics of cooperation and competition among early hominins.

The coexistence of Homo erectus, a direct ancestor of modern humans, and the now-extinct Paranthropus boisei, opens new avenues for exploring how these species may have interacted and affected each other's survival. The footprints, categorized as trace fossils, provide behavioral evidence that complements the body fossils traditionally used in evolutionary studies.

Feibel emphasized the significance of these trace fossils, as they remain fixed in place unlike bones or teeth, which can be displaced by natural forces. This immobility offers a rare glimpse into the precise moments of ancient hominins' lives, affirming the groundbreaking nature of this discovery.

This new evidence of two hominin species living side by side around Lake Turkana challenges previous assumptions and sets a new precedent for understanding the complexities of human evolution.