Mysterious fossils found in China spark debate over new human ancestor

UPDATED: Jan 26, 2025 01:00 IST

A new analysis of ancient fossils from China has sparked a keen debate over the very roots of humanity, CNN has reported.

Fossils found in the 1970s, including skulls, teeth and jaw fragments, have long puzzled scientists. Now, researchers suggest they could belong to an entirely new species of early humans.

The newly proposed species is known as "Homo juluensis" and could help solve one of the most persistent mysteries in human evolution: where do these mysterious fossils fit into the broader human family tree?

Christopher Bae, a professor at the University of Hawaii, and Wu Xiujie, a senior researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology in Beijing, argued that these fossils may belong to a previously unknown hominin species, the report said.

“Their skulls are actually very, very large,” said Bae, noting that their cranial capacity is estimated to be 1,700 to 1,800 cubic centimeters—much larger than that of modern humans, whose brains average around 1,350 to 1,450 cubic centimeters.

The fossils in question come from sites such as Xujiayao in northern China and Xuchang in central China.

Initially, these remains were overlooked or misclassified because they didn’t fit within the scientific framework of the time.

Decades ago, many paleoanthropologists believed humans evolved regionally from Homo erectus, a theory now largely discredited in favor of the “out of Africa” model. This more accepted theory posits that all modern humans evolved from common ancestors in Africa and spread across the globe.

Bae and Wu believe that the fossils should be classified as Homo juluensis, based on their distinct features, particularly their large skulls. But not all experts are convinced by this proposal. Ryan McCrae, a paleoanthropologist at the Smithsonian, expressed skepticism, pointing out the lack of genetic evidence to firmly link these fossils to the Denisovans. “We just don’t have the fossil material to make that comparison,” McCrae said.

Another theory, suggested by Chris Stringer and others, posits that these fossils could be connected to Homo longi, or “Dragon Man,” a species linked to a famous skull found in Harbin, China. Stringer believes that many of the fossils Bae and Wu have studied are better associated with Homo longi than with a new species altogether.

As scientists continue to investigate, it appears that the fossil record may unlock some secrets about humanity's origins that we don't know yet.