The upright ancestor of man was 200,000 years older than scientists thought

A fossilized skull was discovered during excavations in an area called the “Cradle of Humanity,"

located northwest of Johannesburg. In the same place, researchers have repeatedly managed to find the remains of hominids, the direct upright ancestors of modern man.

Researchers managed to collect not a full skull, butonly the upper part of it - scientists call it "tubeyke." During the year, archaeologists discovered individual fragments of the skull and collected it only by the end of 2019.

“In an attempt to determine which specieshominids include the remains we discovered, we compared the collected skullcap with other samples of hominid bones in the same area. In the end, because of its drop-shaped shape and relatively large cavity of the brain, we realized that we are talking about Homo erectus ”

Stephanie Baker, lead author of the study

Homo erectus - the first unconditional uprightthe ancestors of man, who are believed to be the first to use tools, make fire and process food. Until now, the oldest confirmed remains of Homo erectus have been 1.8 million years old bones discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia. Analysis of the new find showed that she was 2.04 million years old.

“The age of the fossil shows that Homo erectus existed 150-200,000 years earlier than previously thought”

Stephanie Baker, lead author of the study

Previously, scientists came to the conclusion that the first representatives of Homo erectus were able to make tools of varying complexity.