Madrid, Spain – Researchers in Spain have made a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of human evolution. A team of scientists uncovered bone fragments at an ancient cave in Spain that have been identified as belonging to the oldest known human face in western Europe. This fossilized left cheek and upper jaw are from an adult member of an extinct human species that inhabited the Iberian peninsula between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years ago.
The findings suggest that during the early Pleistocene era, at least two forms of early humans resided in the region where the cave is located. The Sima del Elefante (Pit of the Elephant) cave, near Atapuerca in Burgos, was once surrounded by dense woodland teeming with wildlife and crisscrossed by rivers and streams. Dr. Rosa Huguet, from the University of Rovira i Virgili in Catalonia, described the discovery as introducing a new character in the narrative of human evolution in Europe.
Previously, the earliest human remains in western Europe were jawbone and teeth fragments dating back 1.1 to 1.2 million years. These were discovered at the Sima del Elefante site, with younger remains from 800,000 years ago found at the nearby Gran Dolina (Giant Sinkhole) cavern. The latest fossils found are more primitive than the Homo antecessor species but bear resemblance to Homo erectus. The researchers have designated the new species as Homo affinis erectus due to uncertainties surrounding its identity.
Named informally as “Pink”, after Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side of the Moon”, the fossil presents unique features such as a flatter nasal structure in comparison to the Homo antecessor species. Experts like Dr. María Martinón-Torres highlighted the significance of this discovery, pointing out that the fossil provides insights into the earliest Europeans. Excavations at the Sima del Elefante site have revealed a lush environment of meadows, woodlands, and abundant wildlife over a million years ago.
According to Dr. José María Bermúdez de Castro, co-director of the Atapuerca Project, the fossils discovered at the Sima del Elefante site offer a glimpse into the appearance of early humans in Europe. The unique combination of features in the Homo affinis erectus species adds to our understanding of the first Europeans. Further exploration and discoveries in contemporary sites are needed to solidify conclusions about the identity of this ancient human species.