Illustration of Paranthropus: Early Hominins from 2.7 to 1.4 Million Years Ago Credit: John Bavaro Fine Art/Science Photo Library
For the first time, remains of ancient humans, specifically Paranthropus, have been discovered in the Afar region of Ethiopia. This groundbreaking discovery indicates that Paranthropus lived across diverse ecosystems.
The remains of Paranthropus, dated between 2.7 and 1.4 million years ago, suggest a close relation to Homo, the genus that includes modern humans and Neanderthals. They are believed to have evolved from the early hominin known as Australopithecus.
Zeresenai Alemseged, a prominent researcher from the University of Chicago, has been excavating the Mille Logya site in the Afar Depression since 2012. This area is rich in human fossils, including remains of Homo and Australopithecus. Alemseged states, “Paranthropus was thought not to have reached this far north.”
On January 19, 2019, Alemseged’s local assistant discovered a piece of a toothless lower jawbone. “The size was the first feature that caught my attention,” Alemseged recalls. On the same day, the research team also found the crown of a lower left molar.
CT scans revealed distinctive Paranthropus characteristics, including the jawbone’s dimensions and the intricate structure of the tooth roots within. While the team couldn’t definitively classify the species, it is likely to be Paranthropus ethiopicus or Paranthropus boisei based on the location of the find.
Dating analyses indicate the jawbone to be approximately 2.6 million years old, making it one of the oldest known specimens of Paranthropus.
“There is no doubt that it belongs to Paranthropus,” asserts Carrie Mongul from Stony Brook University, who was not involved in the research. “The dating is unquestionable.”
Assembled Fragment of Paranthropus Mandible Credit: Alemseged Research Group/University of Chicago
Previously, the northernmost Paranthropus specimen was a skull excavated from Konso in southern Ethiopia. This new specimen extends the range over 1,000 kilometers northward.
Alemseged believes this specimen also illustrates the species’ adaptability. The large jaws and teeth of Paranthropus have been interpreted as indicators of a tough diet. Although the specifics of Mille Logya’s environment are unclear, it appears that Paranthropus thrived in more open habitats compared to the wooded areas frequented by earlier specimens.
“While they were specialized, we may have overemphasized their dietary limits,” concurs Alemseged. “Different Paranthropus populations appear to have adapted to various habitats, much like Homo and Australopithecus.”
Mongul noted existing evidence that Paranthropus thrived in its new environment by adapting to the expansion of grasslands across East Africa and even selecting gramineous food. The new Mille Logya specimen reinforces this observation of versatility.
Recent findings suggest that Paranthropus may have utilized and even crafted simple stone tools. In 2023, stone tools were found in Kenya, associated with Paranthropus ancestors. By 2025, newfound dexterity in the hands of Paranthropus was documented.
Alemseged concludes that since Australopithecus was capable of creating and using tools, and given the timeline, Paranthropus must have shared this capability stemming from their common ancestry with early chimpanzees.
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