Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of human fossils dating back 300,000 years, the earliest of their kind in East Asia signaling evolution towards Homo sapiens.
The remarkable findings were unearthed at the Hualongdong site in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province. The site has yielded over 20 individual ancient human fossils, including a relatively complete skull, along with more than 400 stone tools and numerous animal bones.
“These discoveries indicate that a large family of over 20 individuals lived here,” said Wu Xiujie, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and leader of the excavation team. “They had a communal area where they processed food, and we believe they used nearby caves as shelter.”
The human fossils exhibit physical characteristics that bridge the gap between Homo erectus and modern humans. Notably, a skull discovered in 2015 is believed to belong to a teenage girl, showing a unique blend of primitive and modern features, such as a flat face and a developing chin.
“She looked very similar to us but still retained some ancient traits,” Wu explained. “The facial structure and mandible show early evolution toward modern humans, which is unprecedented for fossils from this period in East Asia.”
The team also uncovered finely crafted stone tools, reflecting advanced technological skills. “These people were intelligent and exhibited behaviors transitioning toward Homo sapiens,” Wu added.
Liu Wu, another researcher at the institute, emphasized the significance of the discovery: “The Hualongdong humans were at a critical turning point in human evolution. This site provides invaluable insights into how modern humans evolved in East Asia.”
The ongoing excavations at Hualongdong promise to shed more light on the early ancestors of modern humans. “We hope to discover more fossils in the future,” Wu said with anticipation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
