Prehistory was not a period dominated by a single hominid. The coexistence between various lineages of human ancestors is a confirmed fact accepted by scientists. There are some very clear and recent connections, such as the one that occurred between the Homo neanderthalensis and the Homo sapiens. However, in the more distant periods, history becomes blurred.
Now, an international team of researchers has published trace evidence showing the coexistence between two very different hominids in what is now Kenya, 1.5 million years ago. The study, published in Scienceshows the first physical evidence of the coexistence between Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei.
Getting to know the Pleistocene hominids
According to the report, the fossilized footprints found in the Turkana basin were made by individuals with different gaits and postures. The dating revealed that they were made during the Early Pleistocene epoch, with only a few days difference between them. As there are fossils of Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei in the area, scientists conclude that the footprints belong to these hominids.
He Homo erectus He was one of the first hominids to walk upright. It is estimated that he lived between 1.9 million and 110,000 years ago. They are also considered one of the first lineages to control fire and make complex stone tools. Thanks to its locomotion, the species was able to spread throughout Africa, Europe and Asia.
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