1,40,000-year-old Homo erectus skull found underwater in Indonesia
In a groundbreaking discovery, fragments of a 1,40,000-year-old Homo erectus skull have been found underwater in the Madura Strait, Indonesia. The find is significant not only because of its age but also because it sheds new light on the evolution of early humans. According to researchers, Homo erectus were the first early humans to resemble modern humans more closely, and this discovery provides valuable insights into their appearance and behavior.
The discovery was made when the Indonesian seafloor was being dredged for a construction project. As the dredging process uncovered the seafloor, fragments of vertebrate fossils were found, including the remains of a Homo erectus skull. The skull was preserved beneath layers of silt and sand, which helped to protect it from damage and deterioration.
The researchers who made the discovery were led by Dr. Adhi Lukman, a paleontologist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. In an interview with the media, Dr. Lukman explained that the team had been searching for fossils in the area for several years, but they had never expected to find something as significant as a 1,40,000-year-old Homo erectus skull.
“We were dredging the seafloor to create a new route for ships to pass through the strait,” Dr. Lukman said. “As we were digging, we found fragments of fossils, including the skull of a Homo erectus. It was an incredible find, and we were thrilled to be able to study it in such detail.”
The Homo erectus skull was found in a sedimentary layer that dated back to around 1,40,000 years ago. This is significant because it pushes back the known timeline of Homo erectus in the region by tens of thousands of years.
Homo erectus is an extinct species of human that lived between 1.8 million and 70,000 years ago. They were one of the first early human species to migrate out of Africa and colonize other parts of the world. Prior to this discovery, the earliest known Homo erectus fossils in Indonesia dated back to around 900,000 years ago.
The discovery of the 1,40,000-year-old Homo erectus skull provides new insights into the evolution of early humans. According to Dr. Lukman, the find suggests that Homo erectus were more complex and sophisticated than previously thought.
“This discovery shows that Homo erectus were more advanced than we thought,” Dr. Lukman said. “They were able to survive in a variety of environments and were more adaptable than we previously believed. It’s also possible that they were able to create tools and other objects, which would have helped them to thrive in their environment.”
The study of the Homo erectus skull was published in the journal Current Research in Earth Sciences and is available online. The researchers who made the discovery used a variety of techniques, including radiocarbon dating and sediment analysis, to determine the age and context of the skull.
The discovery of the 1,40,000-year-old Homo erectus skull is a significant milestone in the field of paleontology. It provides new insights into the evolution of early humans and sheds light on the lives of our ancient ancestors. As researchers continue to study the skull and other fossils found in the area, they are likely to uncover even more secrets about the past.
Source:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950236524000409
