How ancient footprints are increasingly revealing the secrets of the past

Archaeology correspondent David Keys says forensic-style expertise means we can glean more than ever from these marks

With emerging techniques, researchers can tell us a great deal more about our ancestors (William Harcourt-Smith)

The remarkable investigation into more than 400 prehistoric human footprints in east Africa, carried out by American scientists, showcases an extraordinary and exciting new and emerging aspect of archaeology.

In the past, virtually all knowledge about our pre-agricultural Stone Age past has come from the study of stone and other tools, food debris, human skeletal material, bone and ivory sculptures, and of course rock and the cave art.

But over the past four decades (and especially over the past 15 years), a new “sub-discipline” has emerged – the study of prehistoric footprints.