Groundbreaking research has finally solved a long-standing archaeological mystery, revealing that a mysterious foot discovered in Ethiopia belongs to a previously identified ancient human relative that lived alongside the famous Lucy skeleton's species more than three million years ago.
The Burtele Foot Mystery Unraveled
When researchers uncovered an unusual foot bone in Burtele, northeastern Ethiopia back in 2009, it presented a puzzling challenge. The appendage clearly didn't match any known species from that period, featuring an opposable big toe similar to a thumb that would have allowed its owner to grasp tree branches like modern apes.
This discovery immediately raised questions about established theories of human evolution, since Lucy's species, Australopithecus afarensis, was previously thought to be the only human relative inhabiting the region during that era. The distinctive grasping toe indicated this creature spent significant time in trees, unlike Lucy's more ground-adapted species.
New Evidence Confirms Ancient Coexistence
In 2015, scientists made a bold move by naming a new species, Australopithecus deyiremeda, based on jawbones found in the same Burtele area dating back approximately 3.4 million years. However, the scientific community remained skeptical about connecting the mysterious foot to this newly proposed species due to limited fossil evidence.
The recent study published in Nature journal has now provided the missing link. Lead researcher Yohannes Haile-Selassie from Arizona State University announced that newly discovered fossils, including a jawbone with twelve teeth found at the site, definitively connect the foot to A. deyiremeda.
"We have no doubt about the Burtele foot belonging to the same species as these teeth and the jaw," Haile-Selassie confirmed.
Revealing Details About Our Ancient Cousin
The research team employed advanced technology to learn more about this ancient human relative. CT scans of the teeth revealed that A. deyiremeda was more primitive than its contemporary cousin Lucy. Isotope analysis provided crucial dietary information, showing the species primarily consumed leaves, fruits, and nuts from trees.
The combination of dental evidence and the grasping toe strongly suggests A. deyiremeda spent much of its life in forest environments, while Lucy's species occupied more open ground habitats. This ecological separation likely allowed both species to coexist in the same region during the same historical period.
"Co-existence is deep in our ancestry," emphasized Haile-Selassie, highlighting the significance of this discovery for understanding human evolution patterns.
Implications for Human Origins
The identification raises fascinating questions about which ancient species might represent the true ancestor of modern humans. While Lucy's species remains the prime candidate, this discovery opens new possibilities for understanding our evolutionary journey.
John McNabb, a palaeolithic archaeologist at the University of Southampton who wasn't involved in the study, praised the research, noting that it "adds a new player into the mix" in the search for humanity's true ancestor.
The research suggests that multiple Australopith species were experimenting with bipedality, or walking on two legs, during this crucial period in human evolution. This diversity indicates our evolutionary history may be more complex than previously understood.
As Haile-Selassie pondered, "Could there be another species which could be a better candidate to be the ancestor of the genus Homo? We don't know—it depends on what we find."
The ongoing research in Ethiopia continues to reshape our understanding of human origins, demonstrating that the story of our evolution contains many chapters yet to be discovered.
