研究者らはブルガリアで720万年前の大腿骨を発見し、二足歩行を示唆する特徴があり、既知のアフリカホミニン化石よりも古い。この発見はGraecopithecus freybergiという猿種に関連し、直立歩行がアフリカのみで進化したという考えに挑戦する。ただし専門家は二足歩行性を確認するにはさらなる証拠が必要だと警告している。
2016年、ドイツのテュービンゲン大学に所属するMadelaine Böhme氏率いるチームが、ブルガリア南部チルパン近郊のAzmaka遺跡で、ほぼ完全な右大腿骨を発掘した。この骨は長さ21.5センチメートルで「Diva」とあだ名され、720万年前と年代測定された地層から産出しており、アフリカのいかなる認定ホミニン化石よりも古いものだ。
A newly discovered fossil ape from northern Egypt, named Masripithecus moghraensis, dates to 17-18 million years ago and may be closely related to the ancestors of modern apes. Researchers argue this finding shifts the focus from East Africa to northern Africa for early ape evolution. The species provides key insights into hominoid diversity during a period of continental connections.
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Researchers have found fossil teeth in Ethiopia indicating that early Homo and an unknown Australopithecus species shared the landscape between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago. The discovery adds to evidence that human evolution involved multiple overlapping lineages rather than a single straight path.
A new analysis of the best-preserved Neanderthal infant skeleton shows that these ancient babies developed bones and brains at a pace matching modern humans aged 12 to 14 months, despite being only about six months old. The findings, based on the Amud 7 infant from Israel, suggest Neanderthals grew rapidly in early childhood as an adaptation to harsh environments. Researchers observed similar patterns in other young Neanderthal remains.
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A new scientific paper suggests that Homo sapiens from South Africa's southern Cape migrated out of Africa via the coast around 70,000 years ago. Ecologist Alan Whitfield and co-authors argue that coastal resources and skills enabled this journey. The hypothesis highlights marine foods and technologies from sites like Blombos Cave.