International Team to Protect Ancient Footprints

Will advise Tanzania on new museum complex

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A University of Colorado Denver researcher has been appointed to an international team of advisors dedicated to creating a museum complex in Tanzania showcasing perhaps the most important collection of hominin footprints in the world today.

“This project is close to my heart,” said Associate Professor of Anthropology Charles Musiba, PhD. “I have always thought the site should be accessible to everyone, not just scientists.”

The roughly 70 footprints are 3.6 million years old. They were discovered in a layer of sediment in 1976 by anthropologist Mary Leakey in the Laetoli area of Tanzania. For years, scientists thought they were made by two adults and a child but now believe four individuals created them. The footprints are considered the earliest example of bipedalism among hominins. [...] ucdenver.edu