A fossil found in northern Spain’s Sierra de Atapuerca is the oldest human face ever discovered in Europe, dating back to around 1.4 million years ago. The fragmentary remains were unearthed in 2022 at the Sima del Elefante site and include parts of the jawbone and cheek bones from one side of an ancient human’s face.
This find is significant because it shows a shift from ape-like ancestors towards more human-like characteristics. However, the exact timing and route of human migration out of Africa remains debated among scientists. The eastern finds in Ukraine suggest that humans may have exited Africa via western Asia, while evidence from the Iberian Peninsula supports this theory.
The discovery was made possible by another jawbone fragment found at the same site in 2007, which is believed to belong to an ancient human species called Homo antecessor. However, the more recent ATE7-1 fragments are thought to be older, possibly dating back as far as 1.4 million years.
Homo antecessor is known from younger fossils found at nearby sites, but its jawbones differ from those of modern humans in having a slender midface. The new discovery bears some resemblance to Homo erectus, but the exact classification remains unclear.
Further analysis of stone tools and bones with cut marks at the site may provide insights into the species’ behavior and lifestyle over 1 million years ago. This find is an important step towards understanding human evolution in Europe.
Source: https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/oldest-human-face-europe