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Spanish researchers have unearthed fossilized remnants forming the left cheek and upper jaw of the earliest human face in Western Europe identified thus far, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature .
These remains were found in the Sima del Elefante site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain), dated to between 1.4 million and 1.1 million years ago
Study author Rosa Huget from Spain’s Rovira i Virgili University explained that this study “introduces a new actor in the history of human evolution in Europe.”
Researchers proposed this hominin may belong to a new possible species, which they have named Homo affinis erectus due to its resemblance to the ancestor Homo erectus.
The discovered fossils contribute to forming a comprehensive picture of the environment in which these early humans lived. Evidence suggests the presence of fertile meadows and forests over 1.1 million years ago, inhabited by various animals such as hippos, bison, and deer.
Additionally, the researchers found primitive tools made from quartz and flint, as well as animal bones showing butchery marks, revealing insights into the lifestyle and hunting skills of these ancient human groups.
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