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A fossil fragment of the upper jaw and cheekbone was found near caves in the Ataburca Mountains in northern Spain’s Burgos province.
This screenshot from a manual video shows an ancient jawbone fossil found in Burgos, Spain. (Photo: Reuters)
Archaeologists in Spain said Friday that they have unearthed an ancient jawbone that may help them see the faces of some of Europe’s earliest human ancestors.
The surprising discovery, which is about 1.4 million years old, may provide important clues to the evolution of the human face over thousands of years, said a team at the Ataburga Foundation.
“The first week of July 2022 will enter human evolutionary history,” the team added in a statement.
A fossilized fragment of the upper jaw and cheekbone was found near caves in the Ataburca Mountains in northern Spain’s Burgos province, along with other ancient remains.
Scientists said they are still working to identify the specific type of human ancestor and determine the age of the bone.
“We have to continue our research for at least a year. … It will take a lot of time,” José María Bermúdez de Castro, one of the team’s coordinators, told reporters.
“What we can say is that we have found a very important and interesting fossil of one of the first populations to arrive in Europe.”
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