Hominin footprints from key East African tracksites, notably Laetoli (Tanzania) and Ileret/Koobi Fora (Kenya), provide a robust ichnological record of bipedal locomotion that has been rigorously validated through complementary measurement and imaging techniques. At Laetoli, initial validation relied on detailed field measurements of footprint length, width, stride, and toe proportions, combined with detailed sedimentological context and preservation analysis. Subsequent work has expanded this approach using high-resolution digital methods, including laser scanning and structure-from-motion photogrammetry, enabling precise three-dimensional reconstructions of footprint geometry, depth distribution, and surface deformation. These datasets have allowed quantitative assessment of heel–toe progression, medial weight transfer, and the alignment of the hallux, all of which support the interpretation of habitual bipedalism.
At the Ileret and Koobi Fora sites, validation methodologies build upon and extend the Laetoli framework through more systematic application of digital acquisition and statistical analysis. High-resolution laser scans and photogrammetric models are used to capture detailed surface morphology, from which standardized metrics—such as arch curvature, heel breadth, and pressure-related depth patterns—are extracted. These data are analyzed within a morphometric framework, often incorporating multivariate statistical techniques, to compare footprint shape against modern human and non-human primate datasets. This approach enables a more explicit quantification of anatomical affinities and variability across track assemblages.
A comparison between Laetoli and Ileret demonstrates a methodological progression: while Laetoli established the foundational measurement protocols and qualitative criteria for identifying hominin-like footprints, Ileret emphasizeses reproducibility and statistical rigor through large digital datasets and shape analysis. Both sites rely on consistent dimensional measurements and increasingly precise 3D models, but Ileret datasets typically allow higher-resolution analysis of gait dynamics and inter-individual variation.
Together, these validated methodological frameworks are critical for distinguishing genuinely hominin footprints from those of contemporaneous apes and other non-human primates — a distinction that underpins robust interpretation of the fossil record and directly informs our understanding of when, how and why obligate bipedalism emerged in the human lineage.
Aim
This project aims to systematically analyse validation methods used across modern and historical hominin footprint studies to identify robust, reproducible measurement approaches. It will review and compare dimensional measurements (e.g., length, width, toe proportions) with advanced acquisition techniques such as laser scanning and photogrammetry to assess their contribution to footprint interpretation. Based on this synthesis, the project seeks to derive a standardized set of quantitative metrics that capture key morphological and functional characteristics relevant to expert validation. The work will further evaluate how these metrics vary across datasets and preservation contexts to ensure reliability and comparability. Ultimately, the project aims to provide a validated measurement framework that can support expert assessment and improve consistency in the identification of hominin-like footprints.
Objectives
The objectives are as follows:
- Integrate morphometric footprint measurements with sedimentological context
To evaluate how quantitative footprint metrics (e.g., length–width ratios, depth distribution, toe alignment) relate to substrate properties such as grain size, moisture conditions, and depositional environment, supporting interpretation of footprint formation and preservation processes. - Assess the consistency between footprint-derived metrics and stratigraphic constraints
To compare footprint morphologies and dimensions with independent geological indicators (e.g., stratigraphic position, associated facies, and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions) in order to validate whether the inferred locomotion and trackmaker characteristics are consistent with the environmental setting. - Develop a combined validation framework linking morphometrics and geological evidence
To establish a reproducible approach that combines standardized footprint measurements with geological data (e.g., substrate deformation structures, overprinting, and diagenetic features) to enhance expert validation and reduce ambiguity in distinguishing true biogenic footprints from pseudotraces.
Significance
This work is significant because it directly addresses one of the central challenges in ichnology: the reliable differentiation between true biological footprints and features modified or produced by substrate conditions. Footprint morphology alone can be misleading, as differences in shape and depth are often controlled by sediment properties rather than anatomy; integrating morphometric data with sedimentological context is therefore essential to correctly interpret track formation and preservation.
A second key contribution is the improvement of scientific rigour and reproducibility. By deriving standardized, quantitative measurements supported by digital acquisition methods (e.g., 3D scanning and photogrammetry), the project enables high-precision, repeatable analyses. Such digital methods can capture fine-scale geometry with high accuracy and low measurement error, allowing multiple parameters to be consistently extracted and compared across datasets. This directly reduces subjectivity in footprint interpretation and supports transparent validation workflows.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a strong interdisciplinary background combining geospatial science, photogrammetry or computer vision, and sedimentology or Earth sciences. They should be proficient in quantitative data analysis and experienced with 3D data (e.g., laser scanning, photogrammetry), and a geological context is essential. Strong programming and statistical skills, combined with scientific writing experience, will support the development of reproducible methods. The candidate should demonstrate curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries. Additionally, the applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University.
This project is open to International and Domestic applicants.
Scholarship
If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an RTP scholarship.
Enquires and How to Apply
For enquires about this opportunity contact Associate Professor Petra Helmholz at Petra.Helmholz@curtin.edu.au
To formally apply submit an Expression of Interest to A/Prof Petra Helmholz during the Central Scholarship round (July 1st – July 31st 2026)