Remains of a Homo predecessor in Atapuerca

2008/03/27 Lakar Iraizoz, Oihane - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Eboluzioa
• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

A group of scientists from the Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona has discovered in Atapuerca a piece of jaw of a hominid of 1.2 million years. By their characteristics they believe that Homo antecessor is a specimen of the species, the last common ancestor of the Man of Neanderthal and of the modern man. She is relatively small and so they think she could be a woman.

It is the oldest fossil ever found in Europe (the oldest are about 800,000 years old). This suggests that hominids of the genus Homo arrived in Europe sooner than previously thought. It seems that the period from the first hominids leaving Africa (about two million years ago) to Europe was not long. Those who expanded through Asia and those who migrated to Europe differed. This differentiation resulted in two species: Asians became the Homo erectus and those who emigrated to Europe were the Homo antecessor.

Photos: Photos AEMA/Jordi Mestre