Story perspectives

21 Kenyan 1.4-Myr-Old Footprints Show Male-Dominated Group

7/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers reported 21 footprints of eight large hominins crossing a Kenyan lakeshore 1.43 million years ago.
Kevin Hatala (Chatham University, Max Planck Institute) said the prints indicate individuals up to 6 feet tall and about 165 lb.
Neil Roach (Harvard) noted the group consisted mainly of adult males, suggesting a male-centric social system.
The 2026 PNAS paper proposes either Paranthropus boisei was larger than known or Homo erectus showed greater foot-size variation.

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Story summary

Researchers reported 21 footprints of eight large hominins crossing a Kenyan lakeshore 1.43 million years ago.
Kevin Hatala (Chatham University, Max Planck Institute) said the prints indicate individuals up to 6 feet tall and about 165 lb.
Neil Roach (Harvard) noted the group consisted mainly of adult males, suggesting a male-centric social system.
The 2026 PNAS paper proposes either Paranthropus boisei was larger than known or Homo erectus showed greater foot-size variation.