The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints have been found in Italy.

Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints made by Stone Age man.The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side of a volcano perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature.

Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found. But they said the tracks are still a sobering testament to long-ago journeys across a harsh terrain.Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints made by Stone Age man.

The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side of a volcano — perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature.Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found. But they said the tracks are still a sobering testament to long-ago journeys across a harsh terrain.