Unmasking the Devil's Trails: Ancient footprints reveal secrets
Researchers have revisited Ciampate del Diavolo, the so-called "Devil's Trails" from 350,000 years ago in southern Italy. Their findings have been published in the scientific journal "Quaternary." They have determined the identity of the mysterious group responsible for the tracks.
The Roccamonfina volcano in southern Italy erupted nearly 350,000 years ago, violently ejecting ash high into the atmosphere and filling the nearby valley with molten pyroclastic material. According to scientists, when the lava cooled, a mysterious group of ancient humans walked across the newly formed volcanic terrain, leaving imprints in the soft rock. They managed to identify the group that left the mysterious tracks – more about the discovery is detailed in "Quaternary".
Legends speak of the devil
Local legend suggests that it was the devil himself who descended from the volcano, and his footprints remained forever in the rock. This is why the prehistoric tracks were named the "Devil's Trails." Scientists analysed them to learn more about the individuals who made them. They established that the imprints left on the slope do not belong to any superhuman entity, but rather seem to come from at least four individuals of different sizes and body weights.
To identify the species, researchers applied a series of equations that were previously used to estimate the height and mass of prehistoric humans based on their tracks. However, since most of these formulas were designed to analyse footprints on relatively flat terrain, adapting them to the steep terrain around Roccamonfina proved problematic.
"Devil's Trails" were left by people of average build
According to the researchers, the imprints were made when the ignimbrite – a pyroclastic flow deposit – was still soft, but cool enough to walk on. The newly formed surface was not only steep and irregular but also wet and slippery, which caused the ancient travellers to alter their walking style and foot placement.
The research indicates that as a result, none of the commonly used equations provided reliable results about the physical dimensions of the prehistoric travellers, and the outcomes varied greatly depending on the formula used. After carefully selecting the most appropriate equations and gathering all the results, the study authors concluded that those who left the so-called devil's tracks likely weighed between 55 and 64 kilograms and were approximately 152 to 178 centimetres tall.
Interestingly, these characteristics fit well with the estimated dimensions of the extinct species Homo heidelbergensis, which inhabited Europe during the eruption. This species of early humans, considered to be a common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans, could have averaged around 160 centimetres in height, although other remains found in Spain suggest that some individuals could have reached heights over 180 centimetres.
Scientists believe the group included women and children
Based on the dimensions of various tracks, researchers speculate that the group might have consisted of two women or children and at least one adult man, although their data is not precise enough to confirm this conclusively.
The data we have allows for only general conclusions, indicating that the body size of the individuals leaving tracks on the Devil's Trails falls within the wide range of variability of Homo heidelbergensis, the study authors wrote.
