Mysterious Footprints Indicate Neanderthals Climbed a Volcano Right After It Erupted

[Judi Lynn]

Footprints on the Ciampate del Diavolo. (edmondo gnerre/Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0)

MIKE MCRAE 25 JAN 2020

According to legend, the devil once took a walk down the side of a volcano in southern Italy, each step preserved forever in solid rock.

The tracks are known as the "Ciampate del Diavolo"' or "Devil's Trail" - but new details reveal a less diabolical yet far more interesting story on how they came to be.

The mysterious footprints are well known to those living near Roccamonfina, an extinct volcano in southern Italy that hasn't erupted in tens of thousands of years.

Since 2001, researchers have sought an explanation for the dozens of impressions left by a small group of human ancestors and even a few animals snaking their way down the mountainside.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/hundreds-of-thousands-of-years-ago-neanderthals-left-their-footprints-on-an-active-volcano?perpetual=yes&limitstart=1

[justhanginon]

1. Interesting. Thank you for posting this.

[No2Trump2]

2. Thank you and very strange (eom)

[Farmer-Rick]

3. Hmmmm makes me wonder why the Neanderthals would climb up

A volcano after it exploded. It was probably only hours after the explosion. Were they looking for food or a lost family member? Even animals will avoid areas of destruction for days. So what was so important for them? Were they just curious?

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.