Britannica Sources used in this answer

How long was the Australopithecus afarensis footprint trail at Laetoli?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The footprint trail at Laetoli is 27.5 meters (90 feet) long.1

These tracks were produced by three individuals who walked at a leisurely pace across moist volcanic ash approximately 3.5 million years ago. The footprints are attributed to Australopithecus afarensis and are considered of monumental importance to the study of human evolution, as they demonstrate that these hominins were already adept, habitual bipeds with a walking pattern remarkably similar to that of modern humans.12