Researchers from USC (University of Southern California) recently published a study where they analyzed ‘Little Foot.’ A report by ‘Express’ stated that a new analysis of the Australopithecus, an early human ancestor, will provide humanity with better insights on the vital parts the humans of today differ from their primate cousins.
This incredibly well-preserved fossil is from the Australopithecus, which is considered one of the earliest human entities. At first glance, even this weird-looking sample looks a lot like what you’d find on a modern-day human.
The study authors from the university were focused mainly on the shoulders of ‘Little Foot,’ more specifically its collarbones, shoulder blades, and joints.
‘Little Foot’
Most of the fossil’s other limbs have human-like characteristics that allowed it to walk upright. However, its ape-like shoulders tell us a bit about how these human ancestors used to carry themselves. When researchers evaluated Little Foot’s bones, they found that this early human ancestor was adept at the canopy-climbing life. It could easily shimmy and suspend up and down trees. This is actually what also made it so easy for them to throw speers.
Kristian Carlson, associate professor at Keck School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, believes that this discovery is one of the closest ways to know how early humans were using their arms over 3-million years ago.
Over 3-Million Years Of Age
‘Little Foot’ was found in a cave in the South African province of Gauteng during excavations that were conducted between 1995 ad 1998. Researchers later named it ‘Little Foot’ after they found a few bones that showed the Australopithecus could walk upright.
When researchers described the discovery of ‘Little Foot’, they found that it was about 4-feet tall and most likely an old female. She roamed the Earth approximately 3.7 million years ago in the Late Pliocene period.
