Figure 3. Track duration.

Taphonomy experiments show human footprints retained high definition features (in red) an average of only 1.3 days (A), with 0.5% of tracks preserving these features longer than 4 days (1 track retained toe ridges for at least 1 month). Notably, tracks formed in deeper muds, like many of the fossil hominin prints, often lost their distinctive toe ridges (B) in minutes to hours. Of the 188 tracks recorded, 53% were completely obliterated within one week (in blue; N = 103). The exact duration of the remaining tracks (not included in the figure; N = 85) are unknown and placed at 8–29 days. Two percent of all prints remained recognizable after 1 month. Tracks deteriorated due to sediment slumping and settling, overprinting by other tracks or were washed away by water movement. These data suggest that the many high definition hominin prints at Ileret were formed and buried within the same day, likely within a few hours. Photographs: K. Hatala.