Archaeologists Discover Million-Year-Old Fossil of Human Ancestor in Spain

Archaeologists have uncovered a fossilized partial facial structure of a human ancestor in northern Spain, marking the oldest known discovery of its kind in Western Europe. The finding, announced on Wednesday, dates back between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years, according to a study published in the journal Nature . The fossil consists of an incomplete skull fragment, including a portion of the left cheekbone and upper jaw. It was unearthed in 2022 at the Atapuerca archaeological site, a location renowned for yielding significant prehistoric remains. Researchers believe this discovery provides new insights into the presence and evolution of early humans in Europe. Paleontologist Eric Delson of the American Museum of Natural History, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the significance of the find. "This is an exciting discovery," Delson stated. "It is the first time we have substantial remains that are over a million years old in Western Europe." Prio...