For decades, humans believed their evolutionary history was a simple ladder of progression from early forms to more advanced ones. However, recent fossil discoveries in Ethiopia are rewriting the narrative. Research led by UNLV anthropologist Brian Villmoare has revealed that Australopithecus and early Homo species coexisted between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago.
The findings challenge the traditional “march from ape to human” model, instead supporting a branching tree with multiple lineages. This suggests that humans branched out into different niches rather than progressing in a linear manner.
Fossils of Australopithecus afarensis, known as “Lucy,” show that these early hominins were already experimenting with bipedalism and adapting to their environment. The teeth and jaws suggest a varied diet, likely including fruits, roots, and tougher plants.
The Ledi-Geraru site has produced 13 teeth from two previously unknown species: an early Homo and the newly discovered Ledi-Geraru Australopithecus. This Australopithecus is different from A. afarensis and suggests a more complex evolutionary history.
“This new research shows that evolution doesn’t work like that,” said ASU paleoecologist Kaye Reed. “Human evolution is not linear – it’s a bushy tree, with life forms that go extinct.”
The study is published in the journal Nature and has significant implications for our understanding of human origins. Further discoveries could reveal why some species survived while others vanished, and how these early hominins interacted with each other.
Key takeaways:
* Human evolution was not a simple linear progression
* Australopithecus and early Homo species coexisted between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago
* The “march from ape to human” model is being challenged by new evidence
* Human evolution is more complex, with multiple lineages branching out into different niches
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/new-early-homo-species-discovered-lived-with-australopithecus-challenges-human-evolution-theory