Scientists have long believed that a set of 20,000-year-old fossils found in Japan were among the oldest human remains on the continent. However, new research has revealed that the fossils are actually from an ancient brown bear. The bones, discovered in the late 1950s, were initially thought to be from a human due to their resemblance and similarity to known human fossils.
According to Dr. Gen Suwa, an anthropologist at the University of Tokyo, doubts about the origins of the fossils first arose in the late 1980s. The new study, published recently, confirms that the bones are indeed those of a brown bear, contrary to initial claims.
The discovery sheds light on the limited understanding of ancient bear remains in Japan during this time period. Despite this, Japanese scientists had made “detailed and very accurate” descriptions of the fossils, which have helped to refine our knowledge of human evolution.
Interestingly, the oldest known human fossils found in Japan date back around 14,000 years, with fragments discovered on the mainland near a limestone quarry. Other human fossils have also been found on the Ryukyu Islands, dating back up to 32,000 years.
The findings highlight the complexity and challenges of distinguishing between ancient human and bear remains. This has led to confusion in the past, such as in the case of a bone discovered in Alaska that was initially thought to be from a bear but was later revealed to be from a Native American woman who lived around 3,000 years ago.
The discovery of the ancient brown bear fossils provides valuable insights into Japan’s prehistoric past and serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous scientific analysis and verification.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/20-000-year-old-human-fossils-from-japan-arent-what-we-thought