Anthropology

Scientists have identified evidence of a new ancient human species, Homo juluensis, from fossils in East Asia.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
December 6, 2024

Today, there is only one hominid left roaming the world: our species, Homo sapiens. At, one point, however, we shared this planet with several other hominin species, including Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), Homo floresiensis (also known as the “Hobbits”), Homo luzonensis, Homo naledi, and the long-lived Homo erectus. Now, a new study may add a new member to this roster: a species distinct from anything previously known, called Homo juluensis.

The story of Homo juluensis began in the 1970s when archaeologists discovered cranial and dental remains in Xujiayao, northern China. Initially, these fossils — dated to 200,000–160,000 years ago, and featuring a mosaic of human traits — were considered part of the broader human evolutionary puzzle but were not classified into a unique species. Decades later, a detailed analysis led by Christopher Bae from the University of Hawaiʻi and Xiujie Wu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences puts forth arguments for a re-classification as a distinct, novel human species.

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More than 300,000 years ago, on the sprawling plains and forests of East Asia, Homo juluensis hunted wild horses and likely crafted stone tools. They lived in small, tight-knit groups, eking out a life in a challenging environment. Some evidence even suggests they processed animal hides — a resourceful adaptation for survival.

However, they vanished by around 50,000 years ago, leaving only tantalizing clues behind. Among these are fossilized jaws and teeth scattered across China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Yet, these remnants resisted easy classification — until now.

More:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/meet-homo-juluensis-a-potential-new-human-species/