Archaeologists have found a large set of human footprints at the U.S. Air Force's Utah Testing and Training Range (UTTR). Find out more at
Daron Duke of the Far Western Anthropological Research Group and Thomas Urban from Cornell University were driving toward the Wishbone site, located just half a mile away within the UTTR. Duke and Urban are collaborating on a pilot project at the site where an open-air hearth was found earlier with burnt bird bones, charcoal, stone tools, and the earliest known use of tobacco in the world, all estimated to be from 12,300 years ago.
Urban, who has experience working at the White Sands research team, spotted 'ghost' tracks, footprints that appear when the moisture conditions are right and then disappear again. at White Sands previously and refined the application of such methods, was quickly able to identify what was hidden underneath. The researchers documented a total of 88 footprints that included adults as well as children between the ages of 5 and 12.
"People appear to have been walking in shallow water, the sand rapidly infilling their print behind them -- much as you might experience on a beach -- but under the sand was a layer of mud that kept the print intact after infilling,"Duke and his team have studied the chronology of the events in the area well enough to know that the last time the area was awas over 10,000 years ago.
"As we face challenges today with the loss of water in the Great Salt Lake and across the Desert West, the area serves as a nearby example from the past as to how abruptly things can change,” he added. Interestingly, the use of the desert as a test and training range also helps in preserving the archaeological sites. There are 822 archaeological sites, most of which are prehistoric, on the Hill Air Force Base and UTTR, and the officials consult with 21 American Indian tribes to understand their perspectives on the findings at these locations.Be the first to read our latest stories, analysis, and trend-spotting on tech from every corner on earth. Sign up for our weekly newsletter today.
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