"Unearthing the Enigma: Unveiling a 300,000-Year-Old Fossil of a Previously Unknown Human Species"

1 min read
Source: Nature.com
"Unearthing the Enigma: Unveiling a 300,000-Year-Old Fossil of a Previously Unknown Human Species"
Photo: Nature.com
TL;DR Summary

A 300,000-year-old fossilized jawbone discovered in Hualongdong cave in eastern China exhibits a mix of ancient and modern features, suggesting it could belong to an as-yet undescribed species of archaic human. The bone lacks a true chin, a key feature of Homo sapiens, but has a thinner side that resembles modern humans. The finding deepens the mystery of which ancient human species inhabited the region during the Middle to Late Pleistocene epoch. Further research and analysis, including the study of ancient proteins, are needed to determine the precise position of the Hualongdong people in the human family tree.

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