Laetoli, Archaeological site in Ngorongoro District, Tanzania
Laetoli is an archaeological site in Ngorongoro District, Tanzania, that preserves fossil footprints in volcanic ash. The tracks show three individuals walking side by side through wet ash before another eruption sealed the surface and preserved the prints for millions of years.
A member of Mary Leakey's team discovered the first footprints in 1976 when an elephant walked over the surface and exposed the underlying prints. The tracks were reburied in 1979 after thorough documentation to protect them from weather and erosion.
The name comes from the Maasai word for red lily, a plant that grows in this area. Researchers from around the world visit the location to study casts of the tracks and learn more about upright walking.
Visitors must book a guided tour through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, as individual visits are not permitted. The site sits on open grassland, so sun protection and sturdy footwear are important for the walk from the parking area to the excavation zone.
The original footprints were protected with layers of sand and rock, so visitors today see replicas and display panels instead of the actual fossil tracks. Scientists uncovered new prints in 2016 just meters away, possibly belonging to a much larger individual.
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