Laetoli footprints?

Question

I remember reading an article some years ago in which Tim White said he believed the method of uncovering the footprints created the third set of prints, since Mary Leakey's team was using chisels. He thought they should wait to uncover the footprints until they found a less invasive way. Does anyone remember this? What do you think--how many hominids were there?

Answer 1

Laetoli footprints were created by 3 people walking through volcanic ash, which were then quickly covered up by another layer of ash and preserved, a very long time ago...

To extract them without destroying them, one would have to use plaster to cast them, or soft wax, to remove them, if the conditions are right!

Answer 2

The fossilized footprints of three walking humans, extending to some seventy seven feet were excavated. They were dated to 3.6 and 3.8 million years ago. They were 200.000 years earlier than Lucy and they were made by feet anatomically the same as humans.