Fossil find in Ethiopia shows two early human ancestors coexisted

A team of researchers working in Ethiopia's Afar Region has announced the discovery of a previously unknown species of Australopithecus alongside the oldest confirmed remains of the Homo genus.

Experts believe that the landmark find is poised to significantly reshape our understanding of the complex tapestry of human evolution. This is reported by Fana Media Corporation, a partner of TV BRICS.

The fossils provide compelling evidence that two distinct early human ancestors (Australopithecus and early Homo) cohabited the Lower Awash Valley between 2.6 and 2.78 million years ago.

“This is the first evidence from eastern Africa showing these two lineages overlapping in both time and space,” explained Professor Amy Rector, co-director of the research project.

The discoveries encompass 13 hominin teeth, meticulously recovered between 2015 and 2018. A particularly significant find is a premolar, dated to approximately 2.78 million years ago, attributed to early Homo. This discovery pushes back the known presence of this genus in the region, offering new insights into its origins.

A separate collection of teeth, slightly younger at around 2.63 million years old, has been identified as belonging to an entirely new Australopithecus species, previously unknown to the scientific world.

“The fact that Homo and Australopithecus shared this critical time period paints a far more intricate picture of our evolutionary family tree than we previously imagined," said Amy Rector.

Experts believe that these findings solidify Ethiopia's position as the cradle of humankind, the source claims.

Photo: iStock / gorodenkoff