The Time Capsule of Humanity: 90,000-Year-Old Footprints in Morocco

Unearthing Ancient Imprints on a North African Beach

In a remarkable discovery,¹ researchers stumbled upon a treasure trove of human footprints on a Moroccan beach, dating back around 90,000 years. This finding offers a rare glimpse into the lives of our early ancestors and provides invaluable insights into their behaviors and interactions.

In Morocco, researchers unearthed a collection of 85 human footprints, crafted thousands of years ago, on a beach. (Image credit: M. Sedrati, et al)

Journey to Discovery

In 2022, while exploring the coastal terrain near the northern tip of North Africa, scientists uncovered a trail of footprints etched into the sandy shores. What began as a routine expedition to study boulders at a nearby beach soon turned into an extraordinary archaeological find.

Lead author Mouncef Sedrati, an expert in coastal dynamics and geomorphology, recalls the serendipitous moment when they stumbled upon the first footprint. Initially skeptical, the team's astonishment grew as they unearthed a network of 85 well-preserved footprints, documenting the passage of early modern humans.