Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in northern Spain, uncovering fragments of human facial bones estimated to be 1.1 to 1.4 million years old. The newly found hominin, nicknamed “Pink,” is believed to be one of the oldest human faces in Western Europe.
Researchers led by archaeologist Rosa Huguet discovered the ancient face in a cave and have been studying it since its excavation in 2022. Pink’s facial morphology is distinct from other early human ancestors found in the region, such as Homo georgicus and Homo antecessor.
Compared to these hominins, Pink has a more primitive face with a flatter nose and a less arched side profile. Its cheekbones also protrude outward less than those of Homo georgicus and Homo erectus. Despite this, Pink is thought to be closer to Homo erectus than Homo antecessor.
The discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary history of early humans in Europe and provides insights into their facial morphology. While many details about Pink’s past are still unknown, the find has already sparked significant interest among scientists.
“This finding enables us to not only learn about the facial morphology of early Europeans but also increase our knowledge of the evolutionary history of our ancestors in Europe,” said Huguet in a recent study published in Nature.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a64186670/oldest-face