Children studying the Stone Age often find it hard to gain an understanding of just how far back in time humans have lived. Consequently, they are likely to be fascinated by the discovery of 300,000-year-old human footprints in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Found in a layer of volcanic ash, which helped to preserve them, the footprints are the oldest human footprints ever found in Germany, and provide new insights into the early history of human evolution.

Homo heidelbergensis: first to live in homes and hunt

The footprints were found at the Schöningen Paleolithic site, well-known for its archaeological finds of fossilised mammoths and other animals. Discovered by a team of scientists from the University of Tübingen, the footprints were made by at least three individuals, including a child and a juvenile. The prints are approximately 15 centimetres long and seven centimetres wide, and suggest that the individuals were walking barefoot.

The scientists believe that the footprints were made by Homo heidelbergensis, an extinct species of human that lived in Europe and Africa between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago. Homo heidelbergensis were the first humans to build homes and routinely hunt large animals.

The discovery of these footprints provides new evidence of the presence of Homo heidelbergensis in Germany and also demonstrates that early humans were living in a much colder climate than is currently found in the Harz Mountains.

In addition to the human footprints, the scientists also found footprints of elephants, rhinoceroses, and other animals at the site, suggesting the area was once a lush grassland home to a variety of large mammals.

Redefining our knowledge of the interconnectedness of humans

The discovery of these footprints is a major scientific breakthrough, providing new insights into the early history of human evolution and the environment in which our ancestors lived. It is also a reminder of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth, which is also evident in the skeleton of Cheddar Man, the oldest complete human skeleton to be discovered in the UK.

Found in Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England, Cheddar Man dates to around 9,000 years ago, and is believed to have had dark skin, blue eyes, and wavy hair. His DNA shows that he was closely related to other early modern humans found in Europe and Asia. Cheddar Man's discovery has challenged our understanding of what early Britons looked like, and has shed light on the complex history of human migration in Europe.

Find out more about the Immersive History Interactive Primary Timeline

If your class is studying prehistory next term, our interactive primary timeline can help your pupils to make sense of the past. View the demo on our website or get in touch today for more information.