Scientists have discovered a new species of ancient human in the Philippines, named Homo luzonensis after the island of Luzon where the fossils were found. These fossils, including teeth, finger bones, and foot bones, provide evidence of a previously unknown human species that lived on the island around 50,000 years ago.
The discovery was made by an international team of researchers led by Dr. Florent Detroit from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The team found the fossils in Callao Cave on Luzon island, a site known for its rich archaeological deposits.
Homo luzonensis is believed to have been a small-bodied hominin, similar in size to the famous “hobbit” species, Homo floresiensis, which lived on the nearby island of Flores. The discovery of Homo luzonensis adds to the growing evidence of the diversity of hominin species that once existed in the region.
The researchers used a combination of dating techniques, including uranium series dating of the teeth and electron spin resonance dating of the fossils, to determine the age of the fossils. The results indicated that Homo luzonensis lived at least 50,000 years ago, making it one of the most recent hominin species to have lived in the region.
This discovery challenges our understanding of human evolution in Southeast Asia and raises new questions about the history of human migration and adaptation in the region. The researchers hope that further excavations in the area will provide more insight into the lives of Homo luzonensis and its relationship to other hominin species.
The findings have been published in the journal Nature, providing a valuable contribution to our understanding of human evolution in the region. The discovery of Homo luzonensis highlights the importance of continued research and exploration in the field of paleoanthropology.
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