The journal "The Innovation" recently published articles stating that nearly 150,000 years ago, the earth was inhabited not only by Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. According to the authors, there was also a third evolutionary branch of Homo. Where does this belief come from? Let's go back in time.
In 1933, a bridge worker in the city of Harbin discovered a peculiar skull. Instead of giving the find to the Japanese authorities, who at that time occupied Northeast China, the man decided to hide it in a well. For decades, he has not mentioned it to anyone. It is speculated that he did this because he was ashamed of his job for the Japanese.
Shortly before his death in 2018, the worker revealed his secret. The relatives searched the well he indicated, found the skull and donated it to the Museum of Geosciences of Hebei GEO University, where scientists immediately found it to be perfectly preserved.
The Dragon Man
In late June this year, scientists announced that the massive, fossilized skull that is at least 140,000 years old was descended from a new species of human. It was called Homo longi , and in addition - in honor of the region where the fossil was found - he was nicknamed "The Dragon Man".
The skull belonged to a mature man with a large brain, massive browbones, deep-set eyes, and a bulbous nose. He was probably part of a small community and was about 50 when he died.
A modern view of the place where the Dragon Man's skull was found
Researchers say that Homo longi it is an extinct human species, very closely related to ours. Probably even closer than the Neanderthals! If confirmed, it would change the perception of the origin of Homo sapiens which over the years relied on fossil discovery and analysis of ancient DNA.
To find out or Homo longi matches human family tree , scientists compared its anatomy with 54 hominin fossils. They then discovered that he belonged to the same lineage as the Denis Cave Man.
Is this a groundbreaking discovery? Or maybe one big mistake? Time will tell.