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Scientists in Spain have made an astonishing discovery by excavating fossilized facial bones believed to be between 1.1 and 1.4 million years old. These remains could potentially belong to a previously unidentified species in the human evolutionary tree, as reported by Reuters.
This groundbreaking find at the Sima del Elefante site, located near Burgos, challenges existing narratives about early human history in Europe. The fossils comprise 80% of the left midface of an adult specimen, which includes elements such as the cheekbone, upper jaw, and nasal structure.
Dubbed “Pink” after the band Pink Floyd, these fossils are among the oldest human remains found on the continent. The facial structure of Pink appears more primitive when compared to that of Homo antecessor, a species that roamed Western Europe around 850,000 years ago. Unlike the more modern midface characteristics of Homo antecessor, Pink’s features are more pronounced and rugged, reminiscent of but distinct from Homo erectus, the earliest known human species to migrate out of Africa.
While the fossil remains are not fully intact, they hint at the possibility of a new species that researchers have provisionally classified as Homo affinis erectus. “These findings open new avenues for exploring the evolution of humans in Europe,” stated archaeologist Rosa Huguet, the lead author of a study published in the journal Nature.
The origins of Europe’s first human inhabitants remain somewhat elusive. Fossils from Dmanisi in Georgia, dating back 1.8 million years, are often attributed to Homo erectus. However, the remains of Pink, found in sediment layers older than a previously discovered jawbone from the Sima del Elefante site, imply that there was an even earlier migration into Europe.
Ongoing research, which includes advanced imaging techniques and 3D modeling, aims to reconstruct a complete facial profile of Pink and further understand its significance within the human evolutionary context.
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