A fossil is detected in human skull China And dated About a million years ago We can change fundamentally Origin of our species,
Researchers say analysis suggests Homo sepians It is possible At least half million years ago Whaled beforehand.
The skull known as Yunxian 2 was discovered in Hubai province decades ago, but long was considered to be related to Homo Ectus – the first big -mind human ancestors.
At the age of one million, it was considered very ancient to represent almost anything about modern humans. But new computer modeling and genetic analysis tell a different story.
Professor Zizun Ni, Professor of Foodon University, who co-existed the research, stated that the conclusions looked very surprising to come true in the beginning.
“From the beginning, when we got the result, we thought it was incredible. How can it be so deep in the past?” He Told BBC“But we have repeatedly tested to test all models, used all methods, and now we are confident about the result, and we are really very excited.”
Analysis, published in journal Science And incorporating scientists of the Natural History Museum in London, now pointing to the skull related to Homo Longi, which is a sister species for both Neandarthal and modern humans.
This would mean that the early forms of Homo Sapies were already present one million years ago, not as widely as 300,000 years.
Professor Chris Stringer, Professor of Natural History Museum, also co-Leed in the study, said the implications were important. He said that somewhere on our planet, there is a possibility of Homo Sepians being fossils, which we have not yet received.
If correct, the conclusions will dramatically prolong the period during which humans and their cousins shared the planet. Instead of overlapping for a few hundred thousand years, three species-Homo sepions, Nendarthal and Homo Longi can be co-existed for 800,000 years.
This discovery can also solve what scientists are called “medals in the middle”: 800,000 to 100,000 years ago, the array of fossils that is difficult to classify.
According to Professor Ni, many of them are converted as a primitive forms or subgroups of three major branches of humanity by rethinking the timeline.
“Human growth is like a tree,” he said. “This tree included many branches, and there were three major branches that belong closely, and they may have some interaction for each other, and they co -existence for about 1 million years. So this is an incredible result.”
However, not all experts are confident. A evolutionary geneticist at Cambridge University, Dr. Ilevin Skali welcomed the work, but warned against over -confidence.
He told the BBC, “Time should be particularly temporary about the estimates, because they are very difficult to do, no matter what evidence you are looking at, it is genetic or fossil evidence,” he told the BBC.