What is Laetoli?
[[File:Laetoli.jpg|thumb|230px|the Laetoli fossil site in northern [[Tanzania]]]] [[File:Laetoli Footprint.jpg|thumb|200px|Artist's recreation of photograph of a hominid footprint from Laetoli.]] '''Laetoli''' is a site in [[Tanzania]], dated to the [[Pliocene|Plio]]{{ndash}}[[Pleistocene]]. It is famous for its [[hominin]] footprints, preserved in [[volcanic ash]]. The site of the '''Laetoli footprints''' is 45&nbsp;km south of [[Olduvai gorge]]. It was excavated by [[archaeologists]] [[Louis Leakey|Louis]] and [[Mary Leakey]] in 1978. “The Laetoli Footprints” got a lot of attention from the public because they are convincing evidence of [[bipedal]]ism in [[Pliocene]] hominins. Dated to 3.6 million years ag,o they were the oldest known evidence of hominin bipedalism. Now older evidence has been found, such as the ''[[Ardipithecus ramidus]]'' fossils.<ref>Bipedalism can be deduced from the leg-bones and pelvis if these are known.</ref> The footprints and skeletal structure excavated at Laetoli were clear evidence that bipedalism [[evolved]] before enlarged brains in hominids. Although it is debated, it is believed the three individuals who made these footprints belonged to the species ''[[Australopithecus afarensis]]''. Together with footprints were other hominin and animal skeletal remains and [[Acheulean]] artifacts ([[hand-axes]]). [[File:Earliest known human footprints - one set - australopithecus afarensis - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - 2012-05-17.jpg|thumb|200px|Cast of the Laetoli footprints, on display in the [[National Museum of Natural History]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]]] After debate, it was decided that ''Australopithecus afarensis'' is the species of the three hominins who made the footprints at Laetoli. This is based on the reconstruction of the foot skeleton of a female ''A. afrarensis'' hominin.<ref>White T.D. & Suwa G. 1987. Hominid footprints at Laetoli: facts and interpretations. ''American Journal of Physical Anthropology''. '''72''' (4). pp. 485–514.</ref> Detailed footprint an