Adult fossil strengthens evidence for Homo erectus in southern Africa 2 million years ago
La Trobe archaeologists have described 18 new hominin fossils, including a second Homo erectus skull fragment that confirms the species first appeared in southern Africa 2.0 million years ago—200,000 years earlier than traditionally thought.
A new adult fossil of Homo erectus has been discovered at the Drimolen Main Quarry in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind, strengthening the evidence that the species first appeared in the region 2.0 million years ago, 200,000 years earlier than previously thought. The fossil, described in a paper published in the Annals of Human Biology, provides the first clear evidence of an adult Homo erectus from Drimolen, where previous remains were largely limited to child and juvenile specimens.
The find also confirms that Paranthropus robustus, another species found at the site, underwent microevolutionary changes, developing larger teeth and chewing muscles between 2.0 and 1.8 million years ago. This evolutionary development may be linked to the species' response to climatic pressures. The discovery of the adult Homo erectus fossil, along with previously published fossils from the same site, offers a more comprehensive picture of the microevolutionary changes that shaped human ancestors in this region during the 200,000-year period.
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