Humans Crawled Through a Cave 14,000 Years Ago. We Can Still See Their Perfectly Preserved Footprint

Researchers found a total of 180 human footprints and traces that were made about 14,000 years ago in a cave in northern Italy. Here are three of the footprints, made on different surfaces within the cave.

Humans Crawled Through a Cave 14,000 Years Ago. We Can Still See Their Perfectly Preserved Footprints.

 

I knew somebody was sneaking around my cave!

 

Very cool. 14,000 years ago it was probably warmer, even in northern Italy, so it wouldn't occur to people to use footwear of even clothes. And growing up barefoot, the feet would become naturally tough, so again, why invent footwear? I'm guessing those early people also valued the sensitivity and and connection to the ground...as they had to be very cognizant of their environment. Even in ancient Egypt, a very advanced culture for its day, the standard mode of dress was nothing but a tunic or skirt. Rich and poor alike went barefoot in the hot climate, although sandals might be worn for special occasions and/or ceremonies.

 

It doesn't say much about what caused them to last 14,000 years or even how they know they are that old.

Science reporting is so dumbed down these days.

 

They are in a cave, one assumes where the even the wind and rain can't penetrate. Ultraviolet light, wind, and rain account for just about all the decay you see around you.

 

True, but not being a scientist, I don't need or want a whole bunch of details. But, yes...some broad statements about how the prints survived, and how they determined age would've been nice. I assume radiometric dating to determine age...and once the prints in the mud hardened, they were preserved by the cave environment.

 

Very likely, these prints were dug up, and dirt filled them long ago helping to preserve them. Archeologists love these kinds of caves and recognize them right away, and may plan digs over decades, carefully digging up these prints using paint brushes and the whole works.

 

Very interesting indeed! Thank you @TheGreatShoeScam.

 

7500 Years of Prehistoric Footwear from Arnold Research Cave, Missouri

7500 Years of Prehistoric Footwear from Arnold Research Cave, Missouri

 

That edit time limit !! Above post could have been better. Oh well

 

"This group was barefoot and didn't appear to be wearing any clothes"

is that how they knew that the humans crawled? was there a certain dragging print in between the feet?

 

Please murder the edit time limit.

 

it might be a little shorter than it needs to be, but the time limit does need to be there. i don't remember if there used to be no time limit, or if it was just too long, but i do remember seeing threads where entire discussions were based on a particular post, and then that post got edited to something completely different, and it made the entire thread not make any sense at all.

 

I never saw it that way.

 

That happens with the edit time limit or not....

 

Le Sigh.........



Cheers Glen.

 

hahahahahaha

 

I could use a trip to visit that site. After all it is a mere 3 hours away from home and looks generally interesting.
It's open for the public. They have a website https://www.toiranogrotte.it/
It is a flash site, probably some of those footprints belong to their web developer.

 

Story of my life