Scientists Identify Extinct ‘Devil Humans’ Behind Ancient Footprints in Italy

Rome: Scientists have made an exciting discovery about some ancient footprints in Italy. These footprints, known as the “Devil’s Trails,” were found near the Roccamonfina volcano. They date back around 345,000 years, left in volcanic ash after an eruption. Locals have long believed that only the devil could leave such tracks, hence the name.

In a recent study, researchers looked into who might have made these footprints. They think it could be a group of Homo heidelbergensis, an ancient human species. To figure this out, they used equations to estimate the size and weight of the people who left the prints. But it wasn’t easy since the terrain was steep and tricky.

After some adjustments, they found that the trackmakers likely included two women or children and at least one adult male. They estimated that these individuals weighed between 122 and 142 pounds and stood around 5’5” to 5’8” tall. This matches well with what we know about Homo heidelbergensis, who lived in Europe around the same time.

The study highlights that while they have some clues, there’s still a lot we don’t know. The authors mentioned that the body size of the trackmakers fits within the range of this ancient species. It’s fascinating to think about who walked these trails so long ago and what their lives were like.