1 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Jun 4
Summary
A study published in Antiquity says Tanzania’s Laetoli site—home to the oldest known hominin footprints—is at a critical point, with state-backed tourism and other development risking irreversible damage.
The authors say a post-2008 push to monetize heritage sites led to buildings and visitor infrastructure being added without required impact assessments, with heavy machinery and untrained workers harming fragile areas.
At Laetoli, they say a major building was placed amid the footprint field and a new tourist path cut across more recent but still ancient footprints long regarded as sacred by local Maasai communities.
The report extends the warning to three other Tanzanian heritage sites and argues conservation has been sidelined by agencies lacking preservation expertise; the tourism ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Researchers and outside archaeologists say Laetoli’s 3.66-million-year-old tracks are uniquely important evidence of early bipedalism and urge Tanzania and international partners to involve local communities before losses become permanent.
How is Tanzania's tourism push erasing humanity's oldest footprints?
Are UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tanzania being sacrificed for tourism profits?
Protecting Laetoli: Urgent Threats and Global Solutions for the Oldest Evidence of Human Bipedalism (2026)
Overview
Laetoli is facing urgent threats due to a combination of state-backed tourism, potential mismanagement, and the growing impact of climate change. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes Laetoli, attracts around 700,000 tourists each year, putting significant pressure on the site. Concerns are rising as the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has not responded to recent inquiries, raising questions about oversight and transparency. High visitor numbers and possible tourism development increase the risk of physical damage to Laetoli’s sensitive archaeological remains, while climate change further threatens its preservation, highlighting the need for immediate and effective management.