Mary Leakey discovered several important fossils and, most famously, the Laetoli footprints in Tanzania. Those footprints showed that early human ancestors were walking upright about 3.6 million years ago.

Main discoveries

  • The first fossilised Proconsul skull, an ancient ape related to early human ancestry.
  • The robust Zinjanthropus skull at Olduvai Gorge.
  • Fossils of early hominins and stone tools at Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli.
  • The Laetoli footprint trail, one of her most famous finds, which is key evidence of bipedalism.

Why it matters

Her discoveries helped push human evolution studies back millions of years and strengthened the idea that Africa was central to early human origins.

If you want, I can also give you a one-line answer, a kid-friendly version, or a timeline of her discoveries.