Early human footprint. Researcher Adolfo Panarello (right) pointing out a fossilized footprint in volcanic rock on the Roccamonfina volcano,near Naples,Italy. Volcanologist Giuseppe Rolandi is watching. The footprint is part of a set that is known locally as "devil's tracks". They were identified as human in 2003,and have been dated to 385,000-325,000 years ago. The tracks were made in volcanic ash from an eruption. The size of the footprints,about 20 centimetres long,suggests that they were made by a hominid 1.5 metres tall,standing fully upright (erect). The age indicates that they were made by Homo heidelbergensis,a descendent of Homo erectus and an ancestor of modern man (Homo sapiens) |