BU animation shows eruption preserving early human footprints
An animation produced by Bournemouth University has brought to life the ancient volcanic eruption that led to the preservation of hundreds of early human footprints in Tanzania.
More than 400 early Homo sapiens footprints, from between 5,000-10,000 years ago, have been discovered at the Engare Solo mudflats, located on the southern shore of Tanzania’s Lake Natron.
It is thought they were preserved following an eruption of nearby volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai – a moment recreated in animated format as part of a BU project.
The clip was created by animators Katie Hill and Peter Truckel in collaboration with the Institute for Studies in Landscape and Human Evolution (ISLHE) at BU, and illustrates the moment the volcano erupts, with ash and lava covering and preserving footprints in the landscape below.
The video has been used to accompany coverage of new findings at the site, including an article in National Geographic.
This short animation illustrates the moment Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania erupts, preserving around 400 early human footprints.
It was created by BU animators Katie Hill and Peter Truckel in collaboration with the with the Institute for Studies in Landscape and Human Evolution (ISLHE) at BU.
