Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Functional reconstruction of gait from the Pliocene hominid footprints at Laetoli, northern Tanzania

Nature volume 290, pages 496–498 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Direct measurements of fossilized Pliocene hominid footprints yield only spatial information, such as the length and angle of step1–4. A more complete description of gait requires temporal information so that parameters such as the number of steps taken per minute (cadence) or speed of walking can be calculated. The relationships between step length, cadence and speed of walking have been worked out for modern man and regression equations of high predictability are available5. When measurements from the hominid footprints are fitted to these equations a pattern of gait emerges which contradicts previous reconstructions. As we report here, the pattern of gait consistent with the reported footprint measurements from Laetoli is one that might be described as ‘strolling’, in which the stride is quite short, even when related to the maker's height.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leakey, M. D. Antiquity 52, 133 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Leakey, M. D. & Hay, R. L. Nature 278, 317–323 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Leakey, M. D. Natn. Geogr. 155, 446–457 (April 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  4. White, T. D. Science 208, 175–176 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Grieve, D. W. & Gear, R. J. Ergonomics 5, 379–399 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Johanson, D. C. & Taieb, M. Nature 260, 293–297 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Johanson, D. C. & White, T. D. Science 203, 321–330 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Charteris, J., Leach, D. & Taves, C. J. Anat. 128, 803–819 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Charteris, J. & Taves, C. J. Perception Motor Skills 47, 659–666 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lovejoy, C. O., Heiple, K. G. & Burnstein, A. H. Am. J. Phys. Anthrop. 38, 757–780 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Grieve, D. W. Biomed. Engng 3, 119 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wall, J. C. & Charteris, J. Ergonomics 23, 425–435 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Murray, M. P., Drought, A. B. & Kory, R. C. J. Bone Jt Surg. A46, 335–360 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Grieve, D. W. Physiotherapy 55, 452–460 (1969).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1

    J. Charteris, J. C. Wall & J. W. Nottrodt

Authors
  1. J. Charteris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. C. Wall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. Nottrodt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Charteris, J., Wall, J. & Nottrodt, J. Functional reconstruction of gait from the Pliocene hominid footprints at Laetoli, northern Tanzania. Nature 290, 496–498 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/290496a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/290496a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing