2.65-Million-Year-Old Fossil Teeth in Ethiopia Point to New Early Human Species
2.65-Million-Year-Old Fossil Teeth in Ethiopia Point to New Early Human Species
The discovery, made at the Ledi-Geraru site in the Afar Region, includes ten teeth from two individuals. These teeth, a mix of molars, incisors, a premolar, and a canine, exhibit both ape-like and human-like traits.
Additionally, three teeth dated to 2.59 million years ago are linked to the earliest-known Homo species, previously identified by a 2013 jawbone from the same area. Due to the fragmented remains, both species remain unnamed.
These fossils provide insight into a crucial but poorly understood period in human evolution, suggesting the new Australopithecus and early Homo coexisted in East Africa, potentially competing for resources.
The findings confirm that human evolution was not linear but a branching pattern with multiple coexisting species, lead author Brian Villmoare said.
Villmoare stressed that the new Australopithecus is not a "missing link" and likely not a direct ancestor of later humans.
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