Is this depression (and others like it) at a site in Crete actually a footprint? If so, what made them? Researchers believe they are indeed footprints — and were made 5.7 million years ago by hominins. If they're right, it changes much of what we thought about human evolution. (Credit Andrzej Boczarowski)
UPDATE, 15 September: Reports are beginning to surface that the site may have been destroyed by a vandal, but details are slim and conflicting. Follow this developing story here.
UPDATE, 6 September: Had a great chat with Uppsala University paleontologist Per Ahlberg, the corresponding author for the study, who clarified what the landmass situation was at the time the trackways were made. Turns out I was jumping the gun in the original version regarding the amount of exposed land; see below for clarification and some additional thoughts from Ahlberg (in bold), and watch for a story in print ...
