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The relationship between plantar pressure and footprint shape
Kevin G Hatala1, Heather L Dingwall, Roshna E Wunderlich
1Hominid Paleobiology Doctoral Program, The George Washington University, 2110 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA. kevin.g.hatala@gmail.com
Journal of Human Evolution
|June 4, 2013
Summary
Fossil footprints reveal hominin locomotion. Plantar pressure influences footprint depth, but sediment type and other factors also play a crucial role in interpreting ancient hominin feet.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Biomechanics
- Sedimentology
Background:
- Fossil footprints offer direct evidence of extinct hominin foot morphology and locomotion.
- Interpreting these fossils requires understanding the interplay between foot anatomy, function, and sediment properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how plantar pressure distribution affects footprint topography.
- To determine the influence of sediment type on the relationship between pressure and footprint formation.
Main Methods:
- Experimental study involving 38 Daasanach individuals walking on a pressure pad.
- Footprints were created in sediment from the Ileret, Kenya fossil site (1.5 Ma).
- Plantar pressure data and 3D footprint models (photogrammetry) were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between plantar pressure distribution and relative footprint depths.
- Areas of higher plantar pressure generally corresponded to deeper footprint impressions.
- Sediment type significantly influences the relationship between plantar pressure and footprint topography.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that sediment properties mediate how plantar pressure shapes footprints.
- The results align with previous interpretations of Ileret footprints showing medial plantar pressure transfer in late stance.
- Caution is advised when inferring hominin foot anatomy and function solely from footprint morphology due to unexplained variations.
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