Just over 80 kilometers ( 50 mile ) away from the infamous Mount Vesuvius lie the Roccamonfina volcano ; once active , now nonextant . For centuries local peoplehad questionedthe humanoid footprints down the volcano ’s edge , assuming only the Devil could walk on the flux lava unharmed .
Since archeologist discovered the site in 2001 , traditionally known as theCiampate del Diavolo(Devil ’s Footprints or Devil ’s Trails ) , several tracks of our ancestors , and other mammals , have been identified , date stamp to between385,000 and 325,000 years ago . Until now , all the tracks were understandably direct downhill , but several of these new print indicate one individual was move uphill .
bring out in theJournal of Quaternary Science , the uncovering of 14 new footprints by the Italian - found squad institute the total to 81 , produced from at least five different trackmakers .
The establishment of these print is attributed to apyroclastic flowfrom the Roccamonfina volcano . The extremely grave flow of lava chunks , ash , and hot gas produced from volcanic irruption can move at f number of up to 200 meters ( 656 feet ) per second . Researchers can deduct that the footprint were left in short after a pyroclastic flow , when the ground was mild and plastic enough for them to mould .
The spacing between the prints also suggests that the trackmakers did not run , but or else moved at a relaxed walking pace . This indicates that enough meter had elapsed following the pyroclastic flow for the ground to be coolheaded enough to walk on .
Further analytic thinking of the footmark has also enabled the team to tentatively advise the origins of the rail . The size , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe , and archway of the foot appear to check that of the hominin groundwork from the Sima de los Huesos , or “ pit of bones ” , site in Spain . desoxyribonucleic acid sequence of these bonesfound them to belong to Neanderthals . Therefore , the footprints at Roccamonfina are also thought to be from Neanderthals , but the official species statusis still pending .
Alongside the footprints , the team also found two Harlan F. Stone artifacts . Both receive from the same basalt stuff , mark on their airfoil suggest that they were used as tools .
The evidence foregather by the team , such as acclivitous racecourse , a leisurely pace of walk , and the existence of stone tools , has run them to suggest that the well - studied site may not have just been a transit surface area for ancient hominins . It seems the side of the Roccamonfina vent might have been home to at least some form of impermanent menage surround too .
