New study says our ancestors evolved as the branches of a tree – different paths at different speeds.

A new fossil discovery in Kenya is reminding scientists that human evolution was never a straight climb from primitive to advanced — it was a tangled tree, full of side branches that tried different ways of being human.

The find belongs to Paranthropus boisei, an ancient hominin that lived around 1.5 million years ago, and it’s unlike anything seen before, according to the study published in the journal Nature. For the first time, researchers have found both hand and foot bones from this species, and together they paint a picture of a creature that walked like us, but gripped like a gorilla.

A blend of strength and skill

The new fossils from Koobi Fora, near Lake Turkana, reveal that P. boisei had incredibly strong hands — built for power rather than precision. Yet, their fingers also show a surprising amount of control and flexibility, suggesting that this species might have had at least some capacity for tool use.

When Mary and Louis Leakey first uncovered a Paranthropus boisei skull in 1959 at Olduvai Gorge, stone tools were nearby, but there was no proof that ancient individuals had made them. Now, with these hand bones, that possibility is back on the table.

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Feet built for distance

If the hands speak of strength, the feet tell a story of endurance.

The structure of the foot bones — arched, stable, and efficient — shows that Paranthropus boisei walked upright much like early Homo species. A twist in the third metatarsal helped form a transverse arch, giving the foot spring and balance. This design would have allowed Paranthropus boisei to travel long distances with little wasted energy, striding confidently across open landscapes.

Not a failure — just another path

For decades, Paranthropus boisei was labeled an evolutionary dead end: big teeth, small brain, and no tools. But these new bones tell a richer story. This wasn’t in fact a failed experiment — it was just a different one.

While early humans were mastering tools and expanding their brains, Paranthropus boisei doubled down on strength and stamina. It was perfectly adapted to its own environment, thriving for over a million years before fading out.

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A tangled tree of evolution

This discovery drives home an important truth: evolution wasn’t a ladder with “primitive” at the bottom and “modern humans” at the top. It was a branching tree full of experiments — some species built tools and shared ideas; others relied on raw power and endurance.

Each branch found its own way to survive for a time.

The fossil of Paranthropus boisei with its gorilla-like grip and human-like feet is a reminder that our story wasn’t written in a straight line. It was a messy but pretty creative process — and for every path that led to us, there were others that were just as successful, in their own time.

The study was carried out by a team of anthropologists from U.S. and Kenyan research institutions, with aid from Australian colleagues.