Laetoli is a site in
Tanzania, dated to the
Plio-Pleistocene and famous for its
hominin footprints, preserved in
volcanic ash. The site of the
Laetoli footprints (Site G) is located 45 km south of
Olduvai gorge. The location and tracks were discovered by archaeologist
Mary Leakey in 1976, and were excavated by 1978. Based on analysis of the footfall impressions "The Laetoli Footprints" provided convincing evidence of bipedalism in
Pliocene hominins and received significant recognition by scientists and the public.