Tag Archives: Homo

2-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Offers Unprecedented Insights into Homo habilis

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A recently unearthed partial skeleton from the Koobifora Formation in northern Kenya provides paleoanthropologists with the most comprehensive insight into Homo habilis—one of the earliest human ancestors. This specimen highlights the significant physical differences between Homo habilis and later humans like Homo erectus.

Facial reconstruction of Homo habilis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes.

This newly discovered partial skeleton, cataloged as KNM-ER 64061, represents the most complete remains of Homo habilis to date.

Dating back approximately 2 million years, this fossil was found in the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Formation near Illeret, Kenya.

The specimen was discovered alongside KNM-ER 64060, which consists of a nearly complete set of teeth and jaw fragments attributed to Homo habilis.

Geological, taphonomic, and geochemical analyses suggest that the teeth and postcranial bones likely belonged to the same individual.

Researchers refer to these finds as a “possible fourth individual” of Homo habilis, marking a rare combination of diagnostic tooth remains and associated postcranial bones preserved in the early Pleistocene fossil record.

“Currently, there are only three other fragmentary and incomplete skeletons known of this significant species,” stated Professor Fred Grein from Stony Brook University.

The KNM-ER 64061 skeleton includes the humerus, both the radius and ulna, parts of the shoulder girdle, and pelvic and sacral fragments, among other elements.

Although no leg bones were recovered, the pelvic characteristics suggest that the mechanics of the lower limbs are more akin to later members of Homo than to earlier australopiths.

Interestingly, the upper limbs indicate a more primitive adaptation. The forearm is relatively long compared to the upper arm, a pattern identified as high brachial index, suggesting that Homo habilis is closer to early humans than to Homo erectus.

The arm bones exhibit unusually thick cortical bones, a trait reminiscent of australopiths and other early Homo fossils.

Based on the length of the humerus, scientists estimate that this individual stood around 1.6 meters tall.

The estimated weight ranges from 30.7 to 32.7 kg, significantly lighter than other known Homo habilis specimens and smaller in comparison to estimates for Homo erectus.

“The upper limbs of Homo habilis are notably more pronounced, indicating that KNM-ER 64061 possessed longer and stronger arms,” remarked Dr. Ashley Hammond from the American Museum of Natural History, the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology, and the Avanta Catalunya de Recerca Institute.

“However, the dimensions and proportions of the lower limbs remain elusive.”

“Further discoveries of lower limb fossils from Homo habilis may reshape our understanding of this important species.”

These findings reinforce the view that Homo habilis displayed a mosaic of ancestral and derived traits.

While skeletal features suggest a locomotion style resembling modern humans, the overall body proportions and smaller size imply that this early species had not yet developed the larger, heavier body types seen in later humans.

Between approximately 2.2 million and 1.8 million years ago, multiple hominid species existed in eastern Africa, including Paranthropus boisei, Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and possibly early Homo erectus.

This new skeleton underscores that Homo habilis occupied a distinct evolutionary niche among these species, both physically and genetically.

“To our knowledge, the Homo habilis partial skeleton exhibits a postcranial anatomy that diverges from other members of our genus, such as Homo rudolfensis, whose characteristics remain largely unidentified,” the authors stated.

Their research paper was published online on January 13, 2026, in Anatomical Records.

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Frederick E. Gline et al. discovered a new partial skeleton of Homo habilis from the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Fora Formation in Illeret, Kenya. Anatomical Records published online on January 13, 2026. doi: 10.1002/ar.70100

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Hominin: Potential Overlap with Sulawesi’s Homo Sapiens Revealed

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Leang Bulu Betu, a rock shelter located in the Maros Pankep karst region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, has become a pivotal site for paleoanthropological research. Scholars have uncovered one of the most thorough records of early human habitation in Wallasia, which serves as a critical junction between Asia and Australia. This groundbreaking discovery highlights the timeline of Homo sapiens, revealing their adaptation and existence tens of thousands of years ago, alongside ancient human species.

Leang Bulu Bettue in the Maros Pankep karst region of South Sulawesi. Image credit: Burhan et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0337993.

At Leang Bulu Betu, Basran Burhan and his team from Griffith University have uncovered a wealth of artifacts, stone tools, and animal remains dating back to the Pleistocene era.

Burhan stated, “The depth and continuity of cultural sequences at Leang Bulu Bettue now position this cave as a key site for exploring potential overlaps between different hominin lineages.”

The initial stages of occupation date back approximately 208,000 years and are defined by simple stone tools and evidence of animal slaughter.

Among the significant artifacts are strong stone tools referred to as picks, indicating that archaic human cultural practices predated the arrival of modern humans.

Professor Adam Blum from Griffith University remarked, “These findings suggest an archaic human cultural tradition that persisted into the late Pleistocene in Sulawesi.”

Archaeological evidence indicates a notable transformation around 40,000 years ago, showing advancements in stone technology and the emergence of symbolic behavior, which are closely associated with Homo sapiens.

Burhan noted, “This later phase was marked by a unique technological toolkit and the earliest evidence of artistic expression and symbolic behavior on the island.”

Sulawesi plays a critical role in the narrative of human evolution due to its geographic location between the continents of Asia and Sahul, which once linked Australia and New Guinea, making it a vital conduit for early human migration.

Despite this significance, the area’s dense forests and complex terrains have resulted in a surprisingly minimal archaeological record to date.

This new research raises intriguing possibilities about the coexistence of Homo sapiens with their extinct relatives on Sulawesi.

The researchers propose that Leang Bulu Bettue could provide the first tangible archaeological evidence of this chronological overlap and potential interactions.

The later layers reveal signs of symbolic and cultural behaviors, echoing discoveries at other ancient Sulawesi sites known for rock art and advanced tools.

These advancements were initially thought to be exclusive to Homo sapiens, suggesting that the arrival of modern humans brought not only technological innovations but also new cognitive and cultural practices.

Professor Blum expressed, “Archaeological research on Sulawesi is particularly compelling because, unlike Australia, which shows no evidence of human habitation prior to our species’ arrival, Sulawesi was inhabited by various hominins for a million years before our emergence.”

“If we dig deep enough, we may find evidence of interactions between these different human species.”

Burhan stated, “There may be several more meters of archaeological layers beneath the deepest level we have explored at Leang Bulu Bettue.”

“Further investigations at this site could yield groundbreaking discoveries that reshape our understanding of early human history on Sulawesi and beyond.”

The findings were published in December 2025 in the journal PLoS ONE.

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B. Burhan et al. 2025. A near-continuous archaeological record of Pleistocene human occupation discovered at Leang Bulu Bettue, Sulawesi, Indonesia. PLoS ONE 20 (12): e0337993; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0337993

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient 773,000-Year-Old Hominin Fossils from Morocco Shed Light on the Origins of Homo sapiens

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Recent discoveries of hominin fossils in the Thomas Quarry I cave located in Casablanca, Morocco, provide crucial insights into the early origins of homo sapiens. These findings indicate that the lineage leading to modern humans was potentially established in Africa nearly 800,000 years ago. The fossils, although similar in age to the ancestor of homo discovered in Spain, display a mix of primitive and advanced traits reminiscent of post-Eurasian hominins, including homo sapiens.

Reconstruction of homo erectus.

Paleoanthropologists have long debated the origins of Neanderthals and Denisovans, the last common ancestors of modern humans. Genetic studies reveal that this ancestor likely existed between approximately 765,000 and 550,000 years ago, although fossil records are still inconclusive.

While some researchers have posited a Eurasian origin based on fossils unearthed in Atapuerca, Spain, dating back to 950,000 to 770,000 years ago, the new findings from Morocco reinforce the theory of an African origin.

Recent discoveries from the Moroccan cave, including mandible fragments, teeth, vertebrae, and femur pieces, bolster the evidence supporting Africa as the cradle of human evolution.

Analysis of the sediments surrounding these fossils indicates that they date back approximately 773,000 years, coinciding with significant changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, aligning with the era of the ancestor of homo.

Interestingly, the new fossils present distinct morphological differences. The evidence suggests that regional differentiation between Europe and North Africa was already evident by the late Early Pleistocene, spanning from around 1.8 million to 780,000 years ago.

The Moroccan fossils exhibit a blend of primitive features linked to species like homo erectus alongside more modern traits found in homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

For instance, their molar size aligns with earlier homo sapiens fossils, while the jaw shape resembles that of Neanderthals and other African archaic humans.

Although the Moroccan fossil may not serve as the ultimate last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, it is likely a close precursor.

“The Moroccan fossils likely represent an advanced form of homo erectus in North Africa, situated on a lineage close to the evolutionary divergence between African and Eurasian lineages,” stated the researchers.

“Our findings underscore the Maghreb region as vital for understanding the emergence of our species and strengthen the argument for an African origin of homo sapiens,” they concluded.

Findings are detailed in a recent study published in Nature.

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J.J. Havlin and colleagues. Early human fossils from Morocco and the emergence of homo sapiens. Nature, published online January 7, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09914-y

Source: www.sci.news

New Evidence Suggests Early Use of Bows and Arrows by Homo Sapiens in Europe for Hunting

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In a newly published paper in this month’s iScience, researchers from the University of Tübingen and their collaborators present an interdisciplinary study of ancient stone and bone projectile points associated with Homo sapiens from the Lower Paleolithic era (40,000 to 35,000 years ago). This comprehensive research uses a blend of experimental ballistics, detailed measurements, and use-wear analysis, revealing that some of these prehistoric artifacts correspond not just to hand-thrown spears and javelin darts but also potentially to bow-propelled arrows.

Evidence suggests early humans may have used bows, arrows, and spear throwers in the Upper Paleolithic period. Image credit: sjs.org / CC BY-SA 3.0.

For decades, it was commonly believed that weapon technology evolved linearly, transitioning from hand-held spears to spear-throwing and eventually to bows and arrows.

However, lead researcher Keiko Kitagawa and her team at the University of Tübingen challenge this notion, arguing for a more complex evolution of weapon technology.

“Direct evidence of hunting weapons is rarely identified in the archaeological record,” they noted.

“Prehistoric hunting weapons encompassed a range from hand-held thrusting spears ideal for close-range hunting, to javelins and bow-headed arrows suitable for medium to long-range engagements.”

“The earliest known instances of such tools include wooden spears and throwing sticks, dating back 337,000 to 300,000 years in Europe.”

“Spear-throwing hooks first appeared during the Upper Solutrean period (around 24,500 to 21,000 years ago), gaining prominence in the Magdalenian culture of southwestern France (approximately 21,000 years ago), with nearly 100 specimens documented.”

Bows and arrows, however, have only surfaced from well-preserved sites like Mannheim-Vogelstang and Stermol in Germany, dated to about 12,000 years, and Lilla Roschulz-Mosse in Sweden, approximately 8,500 years, indicating they are significantly younger than other projectile technology.

Comparison of archaeological specimens from the Aurignac site with experimental examples from Vogelherd, Istritz, and Manot. Image credit: Kitagawa et al., doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114270.

The authors propose that early modern humans may have concurrently experimented with various projectile technologies, adapting to diverse ecosystems and prey types.

The analysis reveals that the damage patterns on these ancient projectile points corresponded with what is expected from arrows shot from bows, as well as from spears and darts.

“We emphasize Upper Paleolithic bony projectiles, including split bases and megabases made from antler and bone, predominantly discovered in Aurignacian environments in Europe and the Levant, between 40,000 and 33,000 years ago,” the researchers explained.

“Our goal is to determine if the wear patterns and morphometry can identify the types of weapons associated with Aurignacian bone projectile tips.”

This discovery aligns with previous archaeological findings indicating that bows and arrows were utilized in Africa as far back as 54,000 years ago, predating earlier estimates and some of Europe’s archaeological record.

Importantly, the researchers do not assert that Homo sapiens invented the bow simultaneously across all regions, nor do they claim the bow was the only weapon used.

Instead, their findings suggest a rich technological diversity during the initial phases of human migration into new territories.

“Our study highlights the intricate nature of reconstructing launch technologies, which are often made from perishable materials,” the researchers stated.

“While it is impossible to account for all variables affecting the properties of the armature and resulting wear, we aspire to implement future experimental programs aimed at deepening our understanding of the projectiles that form a crucial component of hunter-gatherer economies.”

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Keiko Kitagawa et al. suggest that Homo sapiens may have utilized bows and arrows for hunting as early as the Upper Paleolithic period in Eurasia. iScience published online on December 18, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114270

Source: www.sci.news

Climate Change Significantly Contributed to the Extinction of Homo floresiensis

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Homo floresiensis A recent study indicates that Liang Bua, the cave where this diminutive hominin species resided for approximately 140,000 years, was deserted during a significant drought between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago.

Reconstruction of Homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elizabeth Danes.

Homo floresiensis was first identified in 2003 in Liang Bua, Flores Island, Indonesia.

This species, often referred to as hobbits due to their small size, challenged prevailing theories regarding human evolution.

It vanished from the fossil record around 50,000 years ago, but the reasons for its disappearance are still unclear.

“In 2003, excavations in the Liangbua rock trench unveiled the skeletons of a previously unknown small hominid species, Homo floresiensis,” stated Emeritus Professor Mike Gagan and colleagues from the University of Wollongong.

“Originally, the period of occupation was estimated to be between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago, suggesting the possibility of interaction with early modern humans (Homo sapiens), who inhabited islands in Southeast Asia and were contributing to species extinctions.”

“However, following a revision of the stratigraphy and chronology at this site, all Homo floresiensis human bones are now believed to be approximately 100,000 to 60,000 years old.”

“Associated stone artifacts and megafaunal assemblages typically suggest that Homo floresiensis went extinct around 50,000 years ago.”

“The revised timeline indicates they disappeared from the record around 46,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of modern humans at Liang Bua, and there was a significant shift in the types of materials used for making stone tools.”

In the study, the authors integrated chemical records from cave stalagmites with isotope data from the fossilized teeth of a pygmy elephant species, Stegodon florensis insularis, which Homo floresiensis hunted.

The findings reveal a large-scale drying trend that commenced around 76,000 years ago and peaked in severe droughts between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago, near the time when the species went extinct.

Prolonged drought and heightened competition for resources may have led to their abandonment of Liang Bua and, ultimately, their extinction.

“At that time, the ecosystem surrounding Liang Bua experienced significant drying. Homo floresiensis vanished,” remarked the lead author of the study, Emeritus Professor Mike Gagan from the University of Wollongong.

“The summer rains caused the riverbed to become dry seasonally, placing stress on both the hobbits and their prey.”

The population of pygmy elephants saw a drastic decline around 61,000 years ago, signaling the loss of a crucial food source for the hobbits.

“Surface freshwater, along with Stegodon and Homo floresiensis, all diminished simultaneously, showcasing the compounded effects of ecological stress,” stated Dr. Gerd van den Bergh from the University of Wollongong.

“Competition for the scarce water and food likely forced the hobbits to vacate Liang Bua.”

“Meanwhile, the fossils of Homo floresiensis predate the earliest evidence of modern humans on Flores, Homo sapiens, who were traversing the Indonesian archipelago when the hobbits went extinct.”

“It’s possible that the hobbits encountered modern humans while migrating in search of water and food,” Professor Gagan noted.

“In that context, climate change may have set the stage for their eventual extinction.”

The study was published in the journal Communication Earth and Environment.

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MK Gagan et al. 2025. The onset of summer dryness and forest decline of Homo floresiensis at Liang Bua 61,000 years ago. Communication Earth and Environment 6,992; doi: 10.1038/s43247-025-02961-3

Source: www.sci.news

Early Homo and Australian Ropithecus Lived Together in Ethiopia 2.5 Million Years Ago

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Recently discovered human fossils from the Ledi-Geraru Research Project in a remote region of Ethiopia indicate an early presence of Homo around 2.78 million years ago and a previously unidentified species, Australian, dating back 2.63 million years.

Forensic facial reconstruction of Australopithecus afarensis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes/CC by-sa 3.0.

The timeline from approximately 3 to 2 million years ago represents crucial phases in human evolution.

This encompasses the genus Homo and Paran Solo Pass, which first appeared in fossil records alongside the ancestors of Australopithecus afarensis, a species that eventually vanished.

“We typically viewed human evolution as a linear trajectory from ape-like ancestors to modern humans. However, Homo sapiens researcher Brian Villmoare from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, states that our understanding must adapt.”

“Humans have diversified into various niches multiple times throughout our history.”

“Our evolutionary tree reflects patterns not unique to us. Similar events occurred across different life forms.”

“This is something we should observe more frequently in the record of human fossils.”

“Nature has explored numerous paths toward humanity, particularly as climates became drier in East Africa, leading to the extinction of more ape-like species.”

Dr. Villmoare and his co-authors uncovered 13 human teeth at the Ledi-Geraru site in Ethiopia.

They determined that while some fossils belong to the genus Homo, others include upper and lower teeth sets from an unnamed species, Australian.

This new species differs from Australopithecus afarensis, which was first identified nearby at Khadar around 2.95 million years ago.

“The coexistence of both species in the same area suggests that human evolution resembles a branching tree rather than a linear progression,” said Dr. Villmoare.

The Ledi-Geraru site is also where paleontologists discovered the earliest jaw of Homo in 2013, dating back 2.8 million years.

“Recent findings of Homo teeth from sediments aged between 2 and 2.8 million years confirm the timeline of our lineage,” stated Dr. Villmoare.

“We know what the earliest teeth and jaws of Homo look like, but our findings extend beyond that.”

“This underscores the critical need for additional fossil discoveries to differentiate between Australian and Homo, and to explore potential overlaps in their fossil records.”

“There has been considerable geological activity in this region,” noted Dr. Christopher Campizzano, a geologist at Arizona State University.

“Numerous volcanic eruptions released ashes containing feldspar crystals, allowing scientists to date them.”

“We can date the eruptions that occurred in the landscape where these fossils were found.”

“These fossils are situated between volcanic deposits, facilitating age determination.”

“We are dating the volcanic ash from eruptions that coincided with the deposition of these fossils.”

“As this new research highlights, this was a pivotal era for human evolution,” said Professor Ramon Arrowsmith from Arizona State University.

“Geology provides critical insights into the age and characteristics of sedimentary layers, including those containing fossils.”

“Whenever an exciting new discovery occurs, paleontologists recognize that further information is essential,” commented Dr. Kay Reid, a paleontologist at Arizona State University.

“We need more fossils, which emphasizes the importance of training individuals to explore and identify new fossil sites.”

“The more fossils we uncover, the better we can understand our distant ancestors and the unique journey of survival that led to our existence.”

The findings are documented in a publication released today in the journal Nature.

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B. Billmoare et al. New discoveries of Australian and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia. Nature, published online August 13, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09390-4

Source: www.sci.news

Hybrid Skull May Belong to Child of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens

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Homo sapiens parents” data-credit=”Israel Hershkovitz”/>

A skull of a young girl believed to be a descendant of Neanderthal Homo sapiens parents

Israel Hershkovitz

Skulls uncovered in Israel, dating back 140,000 years, likely belonged to hybrid children of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Anthropological analysis indicates that the ancient remains of a 5-year-old girl were found in one of the earliest known cemeteries, reshaping our understanding of organized burial practices and the people who partook in them.

The skull was initially unearthed in 1929 from Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel. This excavation ultimately revealed seven adults and three children, totaling 16 bones attributed to early humans classified as Homo sapiens.

However, the classification of the child’s skull has been disputed for nearly a century. It was originally thought to belong to a migrating lineage known as Paleoanthropus palestinensis, but later studies have suggested it is more likely a Homo sapiens specimen.

Anne Dambricourt Marasse, from the French Institute of Human Paleontology, is undertaking CT scans of the skull to compare it with other known Neanderthal juvenile remains.

“This study likely marks the first scientific assessment of Skhul’s child remains,” mentions John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not part of the research. “Previous efforts linked to antiquated reconstructions in plaster failed to comprehend the biology of this child in relation to similar specimens from a broader comparative framework.”

Malasse and her team found that the lower jaw presented notable Neanderthal traits, while the remainder of the skull was structurally aligned with Homo sapiens. They conclude that this blend of features suggests the child was of mixed ancestry.

“For a long time, I’ve questioned the viability of hybridization, suspecting that most cases resulted in miscarriages,” states Malasse. “The skeletal evidence indicates that this little girl, despite her youth at just five years, represents a different story.”

The new findings significantly enhance our understanding of the significant Skhul Child Skull, yet firmly identifying the child as a hybrid without recovering DNA is challenging, a task researchers have yet to achieve. “Human populations demonstrate substantial variability in appearance and physical form without interbreeding with ancient species like Neanderthals,” adds Malasse.

From research into both ancient and modern genomes, we know Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interchanged genes multiple times over the last 200,000 years. In 2018, bone fragments identified as Neanderthal and Denisovan hybrids, another ancient hominin species, were discovered in Russia, utilizing DNA analysis.

The Levant region emerges as a particularly significant area for human species intermingling due to its geographical positioning between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Some have termed it a “central bus stop” for Pleistocene humans, clarifies Dany Coutinho Nogueria at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

Recent studies compel us to reevaluate our understanding of early burial practices among Homo sapiens, according to Malasse. Such ritualistic behaviors may have originated from Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, or resulted from interactions between the two.

“I cannot ascertain who performed the burial of this child, or whether the chosen burial ground belonged to a single community or one from another lineage that had established connections, shared rituals, and emotions,” reflects Malasse.

Topics:

  • Neanderthals/
  • Ancient humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

Studies Indicate Diverse Hand Grips Used by Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi

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Australopithecus sediba – This small human species, which existed around 2 million years ago, displayed a blend of ape-like and human-like traits. Homona Lady – A recent study led by Dr. Samar Syeda from the American Museum of Natural History reveals that this newly identified species, dating back approximately 335,000 to 236,000 years, shows a distinct pattern of bone thickness, indicating diverse load applications and potential grip types.

A reconstruction depicting the life of Australopithecus sediba commissioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. Image credit: Elisabeth Daynes/S. Entressangle.

Dr. Syeda and her team explored variations in phalanx morphology, discovering that South African hominins might exhibit different dexterities along with varied climbing abilities.

They focused on two nearly complete fossil hand skeletons discovered in South Africa: the hands from Australopithecus sediba, dated at 2 million years old, and hand skeletons from the newly identified star cave system from 250,000 years ago.

While no direct associations with stone tools have been established for either species, certain aspects of their hand and wrist morphology imply a level of dexterity that aligns more closely with human hands than with those of chimpanzees and gorillas.

“Stone tools have been found in South Africa dating back at least 2.2 million years (and potentially as far back as 3.3 million years),” stated Dr. Tracy Kivell, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Witwatersrand University. “Many primates are adept stone tool users, as are Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady.

“However, the exact nature of their tool usage and interaction remains unclear.”

Furthermore, both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady exhibit ape-like characteristics, especially within their upper limb bones, which could be advantageous for climbing.

The ongoing debate in paleontology considers whether these traits indicate actual climbing behaviors or if they are simply evolutionary remnants from climbing ancestors.

Reconstruction of Homona Lady‘s head by artist John Gurche, who spent around 700 hours recreating it from a bone scan, published in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand, the National Geographic Society, and the South African National Research Foundation in the journal Elife. Image credits: John Gurche / Mark Thiessen / National Geographic.

To explore these inquiries, researchers examined variations in the internal composition of the fingers (cortical bone) in both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady.

Bones are dynamic tissues that can modify their structure based on usage and loading throughout life, thickening in high load areas while thinning in regions subjected to lesser loads.

As such, variations in internal cortical thickness can shed light on how these two hominin fossils utilized their hands during their lifetimes.

“Our findings indicate that both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady exhibit a range of functional signals within the cortical bone structure of their fingers,” remarked Dr. Syeda.

In Australopithecus sediba, the distribution of cortical bones within the proximal and intermediate phalanges of most fingers closely resembles that of apes. However, the thumb and pinky bones are more akin to human bones.

“These two digits appear to represent potential functional signals because they experience less frequent or lower loads during climbing or suspension,” noted Dr. Syeda.

“Combining these findings with a human-like thumb suggests that Australopithecus sediba employed its hands not just for climbing, but also for tool use and other dexterous activities.”

Homona Lady, in contrast, displays an unusual pattern where the proximal phalanx (the bone supported by the palm) shows human-like traits, while the intermediate phalanx (the bone in the middle of the finger) reflects ape-like characteristics.

Fossil hands of Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady indicating that these South African hominins may have exhibited varying degrees of dexterity and climbing proficiency. Image credit: Tracy Kivell.

“This distinct pattern was unexpected and suggests that Homona Lady may have engaged different parts of its fingers for varied loading,” Dr. Syeda noted.

This unique loading pattern resembles certain grip types observed today, such as crimp grips used by rock climbers, where the surface is primarily grasped by the tips of the fingers.

Homona Lady also features unusually curved phalanges, particularly notable since this species coexisted with early members of our own species, Homo sapiens, indicating potential usage of hands for climbing.

Further research is necessary to ascertain whether Homona Lady utilized crimp-like grips for climbing; however, it is evident that throughout human evolution, there has been an ongoing requirement for using tools with enhanced dexterity for food processing on trees and rocks within the ancient South African landscape.

“This research offers greater evidence that human evolution is characterized by various ‘experiments’ balancing the demands of manipulation and movement within these historical environments, rather than a straightforward transition from upright walking to increasingly advanced tool use,” Dr. Kivell stated.

Survey results will be published this week in the journal Advances in Science.

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Samar M. Syeda et al. 2025. Bone distribution in the Faranjour cortex reveals variations in dexterity and climbing behaviors in Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady. Advances in Science 11 (20); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt1201

Source: www.sci.news

Fossils of Pleistocene-age Denisova Homo Species Discovered in Taiwan

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According to an analysis of ancient proteins, the 190,000-10,000 fossil mandibles found in the Taiwanese Pengu Channel in the 2000s belonged to male Denisovan. The findings provide direct evidence that Denisovan occupied a diverse climate, from the cold Siberian mountains to the warm, humid subtropical latitudes of Taiwan.

The concept of artist Peng Denisovan walking under the bright sun during the Pleistocene of Taiwan. Image credit: Cheng-Han Sun.

“Recent discoveries and reanalysis of fossil specimens, along with the application of molecular technology and new dating methods, revealed unexpected diversity among the archaic Hymonin of mid- to late Pleistocene East Asia before the arrival of modern humans.”

“Identifying Denisovan is an important example of such advances.”

“Denisovan was recognized as a group of humankinds that differ from Neanderthals and modern humans by analyzing fragmentary bone and teeth DNA excavated from Denisova Caves in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.”

“Their nuclear genome shows that Denisovan formed its own clade as a sister group of Neanderthals, forming a calculated genome difference between the two clades that occurred more than 400,000 years ago.”

“Genetic evidence also shows the flow of genes between Denisovans, modern people, and Neanderthals.”

“Studies of incorporated denisova DNA in modern human populations suggest the existence of multiple genomically distinct denisova populations, once distributed across Asia in the eastern part of the continent and perhaps part of the islands Southeast Asia.”

“However, outside the Denisova caves, direct molecular evidence of Denisovan has been found only from a single site on the Tibetan Plateau.”

“In Baishiya Karst Cave in Xiahe, the mandible and rib bone are identified as denisovan based on protein sequence.”

With label Penguo 1New Denisovan fossils were collected in the 2000s through drage activities related to commercial fishing from the seabed (60-120 m) about 25 km from Taiwan’s west coast.

The area is located 4,000 km southeast of Denisova’s Caves and 2,000 km southeast of Baishayakarst Caves.

It was part of the Asian mainland during the low sea level episodes of Pleistocene.

“Penghu 1 is under 450,000 years old, with the most likely age range from 10,000 to 70,000 or 130,000 to 190,000 years old, depending on the content of trace elements, biostratigraphic evidence, and past changes in sea level,” the researchers said.

“Direct uranium dating of Penghu 1 failed due to the effects of uranium from seawater.”

Using ancient proteomic analysis, Dr. Tsutaya and his colleagues extracted proteins from bone and dental enamel from the fossils, recovering 4,241 amino acid residues.

These variants are rare in modern human populations, but are more common in areas associated with the genetic temptation of Denisovan.

Furthermore, morphological analysis of Penghu 1 reveals a robust jaw structure with large molars and distinctive root structures. This is a feature consistent with the properties found in Tibetan Denisovan specimens, suggesting that these properties are lineage and possibly gender characteristics.

“It is clear that two contrasting groups of Hymonin – the small-tooth Neanderthal with tall but flexible mandibles and the low but robust mandible (as a population or as a male character) coexist during the late mid- and early Pleistocene Eurasia,” the scientists said.

“The latter form is rare or absent in neonatal fossils from Africa and Eurasia, and is therefore not a primitive retention that is likely developed or enhanced, as it was probably developed or enhanced in Deniso Banklade, after genetic separation from Neanderthals more than 400,000 years ago.”

“Recent discoveries of the island from Southeast Asia (Homo Flores Ensis and Homo Lusonensis) and South AfricaHomona Lady) highlights the diverse evolution of the genus Homoin contrast to the strain Homo sapiens. ”

“The Dentgrat morphology of Dennisovan can be interpreted as another such distinct evolution that took place in our genus.”

result It was published in the journal today Science.

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Takumi Tsutaya et al. 2025. Mandible Denisovan from Pleistocene Taiwan. Science 388 (6743): 176-180; doi: 10.1126/science.ads3888

Source: www.sci.news

New study suggests Homo erectus flourished in grassland and desert environments one million years ago

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homo erectusan early member of the genus homoA new study shows that a new study shows that the astronauts were able to successfully navigate longer, harsher and drier terrain in eastern Africa than previously thought.

archaic humans. Image credit: Ninara / CC BY 2.0.

For a long time, debate has centered on when this genus originated. homo They have acquired the adaptability to survive even in extreme environments such as deserts and tropical rainforests.

Traditionally, homo sapiens Archaic humans were thought to be able to sustainably occupy such ecosystems, and ancient hominids were thought to be confined to smaller ranges.

However, evidence suggests that at an early stage homo Two million years ago, they had the ability to adapt to diverse and unstable environments.

“It’s extinct now, but homo erectus Professor Michael Petraglia of Griffith University said: “Humans have existed for an estimated 1.5 million years or more, marking the successful survival of the species in our evolutionary history.” Compared to that, it is about 300,000 years until now.

Professor Julio Mercader of the University of Calgary added, “Their success is due to their ability to survive over long periods of time characterized by many changes in environment and climate.”

Investigate how climate change has affected ecological ranges, dispersal patterns, and technology. homo erectusThe authors conducted an interdisciplinary study at Engazi Nayori in Oldupai Gorge, an important early human settlement on the equator in Tanzania.

They discovered that between about 1.2 million and 1 million years ago, the region remained semi-desert, with distinctive plant life.

Archaeological data suggests the existence of the following groups: homo erectus They repeatedly settled in areas where fresh water was available, such as ponds, and adapted to local conditions by developing specialized stone tools such as scrapers and jagged tools (known as denticles).

The researchers suggest that, taken together, these findings demonstrate that: homo erectus Their ability to survive in extreme environments was far greater than previously thought.

“This adaptive profile, characterized by resilience in arid regions, challenges assumptions about the dispersal limits and location of early humans.” homo erectus As a versatile generalist and the first human to transcend environmental boundaries on a global scale,” Professor Petraglia said.

“This adaptability is probably due to homo erectus They invaded the arid regions of Africa and Eurasia and redefined their role as ecological generalists, thriving in some of the most difficult landscapes of the Middle Pleistocene,” added Professor Paul Durkin of the University of Manitoba. .

of findings Posted in today's diary Nature Communication Earth and Environment.

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J. Mercader others. 2025. homo erectus One million years ago, they adapted to the extreme climates of grasslands and deserts. common global environment 6, 1; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01919-1

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered species of ancient hominid: Homo juruensis

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Homo juruensis Emerging human species, including the mysterious Denisovans and several hominid fossils from Tibet, Taiwan and Laos, lived in East Asia from about 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.

Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.

“Our research uncovered a hominin fossil record that tended to include things that were not easily attributable. homo erectus, homo neanderthalensis or homo sapiens'' said the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Professor Christopher Bay and Dr. Wu Xiujie from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“We started this project several years ago, but we never expected that we would be able to propose a new hominin species, and even classify Asian hominid fossils into different groups. In general, this should be useful for scientific communication.”

“This research is important because it will help scientists better understand the complex story of human evolution in Asia and fill gaps in our understanding of our ancient relatives.”

reconstruction of homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elizabeth Danes.

The authors suggest that there are at least four human species. homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, Homolonghiand the newly established Homo juruensis — Existed in East Asia during the late Quaternary period.

Homo juruensis They lived in East Asia about 300,000 years ago, hunted wild horses in small groups, made stone tools and probably processed animal skins to survive, and disappeared about 50,000 years ago. Ta.

“The field of late Quaternary East Asian paleoanthropology is in the midst of significant and important changes, largely due to the growth of the hominin fossil record, as we look to change these evolutionary models. “This is a major contribution to how we understand and refine this approach,” the researchers said.

“This field in particular was shocked 20 years ago with the publication of this little book. homo floresiensis Fossils discovered on Flores Island, Indonesia in 2004. ”

“Just recently, another small species… Homo luzonensisAn individual living on the island of Luzon in the Philippines has been added as a new hominin. ”

“In China, Homo longhi It was published after the analysis of Harbin fossils. ”

“Fossils like Dali and Jinyushan may be tentatively included.” Homolonghi Similarly, we await further comparative analysis. ”

“More recently, after detailed studies of the Xujiayao and Xuchang fossils, we have added: Homo juruensis to these discussions. ”

Reconstruction of Homolonghi In his habitat. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

Importantly, along with the Xiahe people, scientists have also assigned the mysterious Denisovans. Penghu CountyTam Ngu Hao 2 fossil, Homo juruensis.

Although further research is clearly needed to verify this relationship, it is primarily based on similarities between jaw and tooth fossils from these different locations.

“The East Asian hominin fossil record is a good example of how unilinear evolutionary models, such as traditional multiregionalism, cannot adequately account for the complexity of the paleoanthropological record, especially in the late Quaternary.” the authors concluded.

“Rather, the East Asian record prompts us to recognize how complex human evolution is more generally, and to revise the interpretations of various evolutionary models to better match the growing fossil record.” , it’s really forcing us to reconsider.”

Their paper Published in a magazine nature communications.

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CJ Bae & X. Wu. 2024. Understanding late Quaternary hominin diversity in East Asia. Nat Commune 15, 9479;doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53918-7

Source: www.sci.news

The Flores hominin likely descended from ancient Asian Homo erectus

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Two recently discovered small hominin species, Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensisraises the question of why such extreme body size reduction occurred in extinct human species in island environments. Previous research at Mata Menge on the Indonesian island of Flores has shown that early Middle Pleistocene human ancestors Homo floresiensis The jaws and teeth were even smaller. Now, paleoanthropologists have discovered additional hominid fossils in the same deposits at Mata Menge. The adult humerus (the lower half of the upper arm bone) is estimated to be 9 to 16 percent shorter and thinner than the type specimen. Homo floresiensis It is estimated to be about 60,000 years old and is smaller than the humerus of an adult human from the Plio-Pleistocene epoch. Homo floresiensis The lineage probably evolved from early Asia. Homo erectus This was a lineage that had existed for a long time on Flores Island, with a remarkably small body size, for at least 700,000 years.

Reconstruction Homo floresiensisImage courtesy of Elisabeth Daynes.

Homo floresiensis This is a small hominin species from the Late Pleistocene discovered in a limestone cave in Liang Bua, western Flores.

Archaeological evidence suggests that this species lived in Liang Bua as recently as 50,000 years ago, around the time that our species first appeared. Homo sapienshas been established in southern Australia for a long time.

The origins of the mysterious humans from Flores have been much debated.

The first hypothesis was Homo floresiensis They were dwarf descendants of early Asians Homo erectus.

Another theory is that “Hobbits” are remnants of an earlier human race that originated in Africa around 1000 BC. Homo erectus If you are naturally short, some good candidates are: Homo habilis or Australopithecus afarensisThis species includes the famous “Lucy”.

Besides Liang Bua, hominin fossils have only been found at one other site on Flores, at the open-air site of Mata Menge, 75 km east of the cave.

Located in the sparsely populated tropical grasslands of the Soa Basin, the site has previously contained several other hominin fossils, including a jaw fragment and six teeth, unearthed in sandstone deposits near a stream some 700,000 years ago.

The Mata Menge fossils are 650,000 years older than the Liang Bua man and have been found to belong to at least three individuals, with jaws and teeth slightly smaller than those of the Liang Bua man. Homo floresiensisThis suggests that small body sizes evolved early in human history on Flores.

However, because no bones below the skull have been found in the fossil record from this site, it is not possible to confirm whether these Soar Basin hominins were at least as large, or even slightly smaller. Homo floresiensis.

Furthermore, due to a lack of diagnostic specimens, it was unclear to which species the Mata Menge fossils belonged.

However, some of the teeth are thought to be intermediate in morphology to earlier Asian teeth. Homo erectus and Homo floresiensis.

This is an artist's reproduction Homo erectusImage courtesy of Yale University.

in New paper Published in the journal Nature CommunicationsProfessor Yosuke Kaifu of the University of Tokyo and his colleagues report the discovery of three additional hominin fossils at the 700,000-year-old Mata Menge site after several on-site excavations at the site.

Most importantly, this new assemblage contains the first postcranial element, the distal shaft of the adult humerus.

The fossil limb bones discovered at the Mata Menge excavation site have been long awaited as they provide a wealth of evidence regarding the origins of our human ancestors. Homo floresiensis.

Digital microscopic examination of the microstructure revealed that the small humerus belonged to an adult individual.

Based on the estimated length of the bones, the team was able to calculate that the hominin was about 100 centimetres tall.

This is about 6cm shorter than the estimated height 60,000 years ago. Homo floresiensis Liang Bua skeleton (approximately 106cm based on femur length).

“This 700,000-year-old adult humerus is Homo floresiensis“This is the smallest humerus bone in the human fossil record anywhere in the world,” Professor Adam Blum, from Griffith University, said.

“This extremely rare specimen Homo floresiensis The body size was very small.”

“But the small size of these limb bones reveals that the hobbit's early ancestors were even smaller than we previously thought.”

Two additional hominid teeth from Mata Menge are also smaller in size, one of which is an early Homo erectus Java.

This similarity is Homo floresiensis It evolved from an older, more primitive type of hominin and has never been found anywhere else, not even in Indonesia, or anywhere else in Africa.

The Mata Menge skeleton now contains a total of 10 fossil specimens, representing at least four individuals, including two children.

They are all anatomically very similar to the Liang Bu. Homo floresiensis They are now considered to be an ancient variant of this human species.

However, this early form, although directly ancestral to the “hobbits”, had a less specialized dentition (more primitive teeth) than the descendants of Liang Bua.

Furthermore, the small arm bones indicate that extreme body size reduction occurred early in the history of Flores's population.

“The evolutionary history of humans on Flores is still largely unknown,” Professor Blum said.

“But the new fossils suggest that the story of The Hobbit Homo erectus “Maybe a million years ago, it somehow became isolated on this remote Indonesian island, and over time its body size dramatically decreased.”

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Hiroyuki Kaifu others2024. Early evolution of small body size Homo floresiensis. Nat Community 15, 6381; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50649-7

Source: www.sci.news

Research shows that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had 200,000 years of interaction

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A recent study indicates that multiple instances of gene flow occurring between 250,000 and 200,000 years ago impacted the genomes and biology of both modern humans and Neanderthals, who are believed to share 2.5 to 3.7 percent of human ancestry.

Li othersIt provides insight into the history of modern-human Neanderthal admixture, shows that gene flow has significantly influenced patterns of genomic variation in modern and Neanderthals, and suggests that taking into account human-derived sequences in Neanderthals allows for more precise inferences about admixture and its consequences in both Neanderthals and modern humans. Image courtesy of the Neanderthal Museum.

“For the first time, geneticists have identified multiple instances of interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals,” stated Professor Li Ming from Southeast University.

“It is now evident that throughout most of human history, there was interaction between modern humans and Neanderthals,” added Professor Joshua Akey from Princeton University.

“Our direct ancestors, hominins, diverged from the Neanderthal lineage approximately 600,000 years ago and acquired modern physical characteristics around 250,000 years ago.”

“Subsequently, modern humans continued to engage with Neanderthals for around 200,000 years until the extinction of Neanderthals.”

The researchers utilized the genomes of 2,000 modern humans, three Neanderthals, and one Denisovan to track gene flow between human populations over the past 250,000 years.

They employed a genetic tool called IBDmix, developed several years ago, which utilizes machine learning techniques for sequencing genomes.

Previously, scientists relied on comparing the human genome to reference populations of modern individuals with minimal or no Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA.

The study authors discovered traces of Neanderthal DNA even in populations residing thousands of miles south of Neanderthal caves, suggesting that the DNA might have been transmitted southward by travelers or their descendants.

Using IBDmix, they identified a first contact wave around 200,000-250,000 years ago, a second contact wave around 100,000-120,000 years ago, and a peak contact wave around 50,000-60,000 years ago, deviating from previous genetic data.

“Most genetic data indicates that modern humans originated in Africa 250,000 years ago, persisted there for another 200,000 years, and only around 50,000 years ago dispersed from Africa to populate other regions as humans,” said Prof Akey.

“Our model suggests that there wasn’t a prolonged period of stasis, but soon after the emergence of modern humans, we migrated out of Africa and eventually returned.”

“To me, the narrative revolves around dispersal, highlighting that modern humans have been more mobile than previously assumed, encountering Neanderthals and Denisovans,” added Prof Akey.

This portrayal of migrating humans aligns with archaeological and paleoanthropological evidence indicating cultural and tool exchanges among human populations.

A crucial insight was to search for modern human DNA in the Neanderthal genome, rather than vice versa.

“While much genetic research in the past decade focused on how interbreeding with Neanderthals influenced the evolution and phenotype of modern humans, these questions also hold importance and interest in the opposite direction,” noted Professor Akey.

They realized that the descendants of the initial interbreeding event between Neanderthals and modern humans likely stayed with the Neanderthals and thus left no genetic trace in modern humans.

“By incorporating Neanderthal elements into genetic studies, we can analyze these early migrations in a new light,” Prof Akey mentioned.

The final revelation was that the Neanderthal population was smaller than previously estimated.

Traditional genetic modeling used diversity as an indicator of population size: greater genetic diversity implied a larger population.

However, using IBDmix, the team showed that most diversity came from DNA sequences originating from a larger modern human population, leading to a reduction in the effective Neanderthal population from around 3,400 breeding individuals to approximately 2,400.

Collectively, these new findings provide insights into the disappearance of Neanderthals from the record roughly 30,000 years ago.

“I prefer not to use the term ‘extinction’ because I believe Neanderthals were mostly assimilated,” mentioned Prof Akey.

It is theorized that the Neanderthal population gradually dwindled, with the last survivors merging into modern human communities.

“The assimilation model was first proposed in 1989 by anthropologist Fred Smith from Illinois State University, and our results offer compelling genetic evidence supporting Fred’s hypothesis,” Prof Akey stated.

“Neanderthals likely faced prolonged near-extinction.”

“Our estimates suggest that even a slight decrease of 10 to 20 percent in the population size would have a significant impact on an already vulnerable population,” Prof Akey added.

“Modern humans can be likened to waves gradually eroding the shoreline, eventually overwhelming Neanderthals demographically and integrating them into the modern human population.”

Read the full research findings published in the journal Science.

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Li-Ming Lee others2024. Recurrent gene flow between Neanderthals and modern humans over the past 200,000 years. Science 385(6705); doi:10.1126/science.adi1768

Source: www.sci.news

Homo sapiens are believed to have reached Northern Europe around 45,000 years ago, according to scientists.

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homo sapiens is connected with Rinkombi Lanisia Yersmanovician Culture According to three papers published in , Neanderthals existed in central and northwestern Europe long before they became extinct in southwestern Europe. journal Nature And that journal natural ecology and evolution. The evidence is homo sapiens And the fact that Neanderthals lived side by side is consistent with genomic evidence that the two species occasionally interbred. Suspicions have also been raised that modern humans' invasion of Europe and Asia about 50,000 years ago may have driven Neanderthals to extinction.

Stratigraphy including location of homo sapiens Bones, a map of the LRJ site, and stone tools from the Ranis site in Germany. Image credit: Mylopotamitaki other., doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06923-7.

The Paleolithic Rincombi-Lanisia-Jerzmanovician (LRJ) culture or technocomplex spread across northwestern and central Europe.

The Ranis Cave site in the Orla River Valley, Thuringia, Germany, is one of the eponymous LRJ sites based on its unique configuration of bifacial and monofacial points.

Previous dating had shown that the site was more than 40,000 years old, but there were no recognizable bones to show who made the tools, so it was unclear whether they were the product of Neanderthals. It was unclear whether it was a product of Neanderthals or not. homo sapiens.

“The new discovery is homo sapiens Who created this technology homo sapiens At this time, 45,000 years ago, they were this far north,” said Dr. Elena Zavala, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.

“So these are some of the earliest.” homo sapiens In Europe. “

“The cave ruins of Ranis provide evidence of initial dispersal. homo sapiens It is widespread throughout the high latitudes of Europe,” said Professor Jean-Jacques Hubelin, a researcher at the Collège de France.

“It turns out that stone structures thought to have been made by Neanderthals were actually part of early Neanderthals.” homo sapiens toolkit. ”

“This fundamentally changes what we know about this period. homo sapiens Long before Neanderthals disappeared in southwestern Europe, they reached northwestern Europe. ”

Scientists carried out genetic analysis of hominid bone fragments from new deep excavations carried out at Ranis between 2016 and 2022, as well as from earlier excavations in the 1930s.

Because the DNA in ancient bones is highly fragmented, she used special techniques to isolate and sequence the DNA. All of it is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is inherited only from the mother.

“We have confirmed that the bone fragments are: homo sapiens. Interestingly, some of the fragments shared the same mitochondrial DNA sequence, even if they were from different excavations,” Dr. Zavala said.

“This indicates that these fragments belong to the same person or his maternal relatives, and connects these new discoveries with discoveries from decades ago.”

The bone fragments were initially identified as human through analysis of bone proteins in a field called paleoproteomics.

The authors found that by comparing the Ranis mtDNA sequences with mtDNA obtained from human remains from other Paleolithic sites in Europe, they were able to construct an early Stone Age family tree. It's done. homo sapiens All over Europe.

All but one of the 13 Ranis fragments are very similar to each other and, surprisingly, to the mtDNA of a 43,000-year-old female skull discovered in the Zlaty Kush cave in the Czech Republic. Ta. The only standout player was in the same group as a player from Italy.

“That raises some questions: Was this a single population? What is the relationship here?” Dr. Zavala said.

“But when it comes to mtDNA, that's just one side of history. It's just the maternal side. We need nuclear DNA to investigate this.”

The researchers also found that Ranis Cave is primarily used by hibernating cave bears and denning hyenas, with only periodic human presence.

This low-density archaeological footprint is consistent with other LRJ sites and is best explained by short-term, opportunistic visits by small, mobile settler groups. homo sapiens.

“This means that even in these early groups, homo sapiens “Humans, dispersed across Eurasia, already had some ability to adapt to such harsh climatic conditions,” said Dr Sara Pederzani, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of La Laguna.

“Until recently, it was thought that resilience to cold climate conditions would not emerge until several thousand years later. So this is a fascinating and surprising result.”

The research team also carried out radiocarbon dating of human and animal bones taken from different layers of the site to reconstruct the site's age, focusing on bones with signs of human modification on their surfaces. They then correlated the age with the presence of humans in the cave.

“we, homo sapiens The Francis Crick Institute said Dr. Helen Furus, a postdoctoral researcher at .

“The evidence suggests that homo sapiens They occupied this site sporadically for 47,500 years. ”

Source: www.sci.news

Homo longhi’s facial reconstruction

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Brazilian anthropologist reconstructs ancient human face Homolonghi This comes from a well-preserved skull discovered in northeastern China in the 1930s.

portrait of Homolonghi. Image credit: Cicero Moraes, doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24648591.

Homolonghi It is an extinct species of the genus homo It lived in Asia during the Middle Pleistocene.

The species, also known as dragon man, was identified from a nearly complete skull dating back 148,000 years.

This fossil was discovered in 1933 when a bridge was being built over the Songhua River in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.

Due to unsystematic recoveries and long periods of time, information about the exact location and fossil layers has been lost.

Harbin's skull is huge, larger than all other archaic humans. It is also relatively long and low, lacking the spherical shape of modern human brain cases.

It has larger, almost square eye sockets, thick eyebrow ridges, a wide mouth, and oversized teeth.

Its intracranial volume is estimated to be 1,420 ml; homo sapiens Neanderthals, and bigger than before homo seed.

This specimen, also known as the Harbin skull, probably represents a man less than 50 years old.

front view portrait of Homolonghi. Image credit: Cicero Moraes, doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24648591.

“Uranium series dating gives the fossil a reliable date of 148,000 years ago, and its remarkable dimensions mean the skull is larger than all known archaic hominin skulls. ” he said. Cicero Moraesresearcher at the Ortogonline Treinamento em Desenvolvimento Profissional e Consultoria LTDA.

Regarding face approximation, Homo longhiMoraes used not only Harbin's skull, but also a computed tomography (CT) scan of Harbin's skull. homo erectus, homo sapiens and pan-troglodytes.

“Forensic facial reconstruction, or forensic facial approximation, is an auxiliary recognition technique that reconstructs/approximates the face in a skull, and is used when there is little information to identify an individual based on the remains. ” explained Moraes.

portrait side view Homolonghi. Image credit: Cicero Moraes, doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24648591.

“To be able to approximate the face, the jaw and missing teeth had to be reconstructed,” he added.

“For this purpose, we need a complete skull. homo erectus Teeth that underwent some structural modifications and were precisely adjusted in the tooth area were used. ”

“The remaining molars served as parameters for aligning other teeth as well as the alveolus in the upper jaw.”

“Thanks to the wide range of information obtained in previous studies, the reconstruction of the fossil and face is now possible. HomolonghiIn addition to undertaking some measurements and comparisons in the context of other species,” concluded Moraes.

of result Published in an online journal OrtogOnLineMag.

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Cicero Moraes. 2023. Facial shortcuts Homo longhi (Harbin, China, approximately 148,000 AP). OrtogOnLineMag 4(2); doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24648591

Source: www.sci.news