Ancient Footprints
Footprints have been preserved as fossils and provide evidence of prehistoric life. Known as "ichnites", these trace fossils can give clues to the behaviour of specific species of dinosaur. The study of such fossils is known as ichnology and species known only by such evidence are known as ichnospecies. The Grallator is one example of a genus that has left no fossils other than ichnites.
For example, an international team's discovery of a set of 1.5 million-year-old human ancestor footprints in Ileret, Kenya has shown the earliest direct evidence of a modern human style of upright walking. The team believe that the prints were probably formed by the species Homo erectus.
Read more about this topic: Footprint
Famous quotes containing the words ancient and/or footprints:
“There is an ancient saying that, “Hard is the knowledge of the good.””
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)
“Morning at last: there in the snow
Your small blunt footprints come and go.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)