85,000-Year-Old Footprints Show Stepping Stone in Human Migration

The footprints of prehistoric humans, cast in the once-lush grasslands of present-day Saudi Arabia, offer new clues on how we left Africa.

First it was a finger. Now archaeologists working in Saudi Arabia are finding remnants of other human appendages that point to an earlier migration out of Africa than has been previously assumed.

Human footprints have been found in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia near a city called Tabuk. According to a press release sent by the kingdom's Ministry of Culture and Information, the footprints were found dispersing in different directions on what was once an ancient lakebed.

The find was announced by the president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Prince Sultan bin Salman, during his visit to the National Museum of Tokyo. The Japanese museum is hosting an exhibit showcasing ancient Saudi artifacts.

In his announcement, the

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