Story perspectives

Ancient Pliocene Tracks Discovered in South Africa

12/4/2025

24 5

Summary

Story summary

The African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience in South Africa reports the first Pliocene vertebrate tracks in the Wankoe Formation.
Over 15 years, the team identified 350 tracksites along the coast, with the oldest dating to 400,000 years ago.
The recent findings include pedestalled tracks, raised rather than indented, potentially revealing ancient environments.
The researchers plan to continue exploring the Pliocene record to uncover ancestral hominin tracks.

1 of 1

Story summary

The African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience in South Africa reports the first Pliocene vertebrate tracks in the Wankoe Formation.
Over 15 years, the team identified 350 tracksites along the coast, with the oldest dating to 400,000 years ago.
The recent findings include pedestalled tracks, raised rather than indented, potentially revealing ancient environments.
The researchers plan to continue exploring the Pliocene record to uncover ancestral hominin tracks.