Published and Student Plantar Measurements rev.03-04-3023.6_Updated.xlsx

NB: Not for peer review, student collaboration project. Measurement of fossil hominin footprints are of high value in the interpretation of the evolution of bipedality1,2. However, due to the variable nature of such fossilized imprints created within diverse soil features, interpretations of footprints are uncertain3–5. We demonstrate that a simple paper walkway and water-based paint imprints of feet and gait characteristics of students enables scientific competency on par with published observations of hominin fossil imprints with established landmarks of the plantar foot6. While the walkway approach is limited to two-dimensions, features of evolving hominin foot can be measured with low cost and high volume. In addition, two approaches for the determination of foot arch volume including an air-drying clay imprint and a 3D iPhone scan7 are also described that are consistent with published data8. We emphasize the uncertainty in analysis methods for fossil footprints, typically not reported in the literature for features of the plantar foot4,9.