Ancient Footprints Reveal Early Shoe-Wearing Humans

Ancient footprints found in South Africa suggest that humans may have worn shoes as early as 148,000 years ago. The footprints, which show no toes but have crisp edges and possible evidence of strap attachment points, were found at three different locations on the Cape coast. While researchers are cautious about drawing firm conclusions, experiments with sandals resembling historical Indigenous San footwear revealed similar markings. The use of shoes in the Middle Stone Age may have been motivated by the need to protect feet from sharp rocks while coastal foraging. This discovery provides potential evidence of the earliest use of footwear by humans.