UK yields earliest human footprints evidence

Researchers have discovered the earliest evidence of human footprints aged over 800,000 years old on the Norfolk Coast in the East of England.

Described as one of the most important discoveries in England, the footprints were unraveled in on the shores of Happisburgh in northern Europe and not in Africa.

“It will rewrite our understanding of the early human occupation of Britain and indeed of Europe,” said Dr Nick Ashton of the British Museum.

The Happisburgh footprints are the only ones of this age in Europe and there are only three other sets that are older, all of which are in Africa, according to the findings report published in the science journal Plos One.

The research team took a 3D scan of the footprints over the following two weeks to analyze the details of the finding.

The result was confirmed by Dr Isabelle De Groote of Liverpool John Moores University, indicating the footprints belong to human including five people, one adult male and some children.

“I can make out the heel, arch and even toes in some of the prints, the largest of which would have filled a UK shoe size 8,” Dr. De Groote said.