Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Samsung
Elon Musk
Apple
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Technology News / Scientists discover 3.8 million-year-old fossil of ancient human ancestor
Technology

Scientists discover 3.8 million-year-old fossil of ancient human ancestor

Scientists discover 3.8 million-year-old fossil of ancient human ancestor
Written by Siddhant Pandey
Aug 29, 2019, 02:51 pm 3 min read
Scientists discover 3.8 million-year-old fossil of ancient human ancestor

Despite modern advancements in palaeontology, we still know very little about our own ancestry. However, scientists yesterday announced a groundbreaking discovery of a fossil in Ethiopia, and for the first time, they can assign a face to our ancient ancestor, Australopithecus anamensis (known to have lived 4.2-3.9 million years ago). In the family tree, the genus Australopithecus just precedes the modern-day human, Homo.

Discovery
Discovered in 2016, fossil dates back to 3.8 million years

On Wednesday, scientists of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History announced the discovery of a nearly complete skull of A. anamensis dating back to 3.8 million years ago in the journal Nature. Notably, research head Yohannes Haile-Selassie made the discovery in 2016, buried in the sand, near an ancient river-delta from the Woranso-Mille paleontological study area in the central Afar region of Ethiopia.

Fossil
Fossil belongs to adult male, measures 20cm x 11.5cm

The A. anamensis skull, which belongs to an adult male, measures 8 inches (20cm) front to back, and 4.5 inches (11.5cm) wide. Although the researchers didn't give a height estimate, we know from previous research that the A. anamensis was about 5ft (1.5m) tall. Little was known about the species as, until this discovery, researchers had only found its isolated jaw fragments and teeth.

Significance
Fossil helped understand species' diet, brain size, facial appearance

Now, based on the skull's robust built, long face, protrusive jaws, and a well-developed "sagittal crest," scientists can infer that its face was built to chew tough food. The sagittal crest is a ridge of bone at the top of the skull, indicating strong jaw muscles. The fossil, dubbed MRD, also helped scientists learn about the brain size and facial appearance of the A. anamensis.

Information
Fossil's species direct ancestor of famed 'Lucy' fossil

The species is believed to be bipedal but could've been able to move around in trees, Reuters reported. A. anamensis is also an ancestor of A. afarensis- the species of the famed 'Lucy' fossil, a partial skeleton from 3.2 million years ago, discovered in 1974.

Key takeaway
Study indicates two species of human ancestors existed together

Besides helping understand A. anamensis better, the MRD has also made another significant revelation. The study's authors report that A. anamensis existed for at least 100,000 years even after evolving into Lucy's species, A. afarensis. Previously, it was believed that there was no such inter-species overlap among our ancestors. The study also demonstrates that the two species are more different than previously recognized.

Quote
"Our evolution was not entirely characterized by a linear transformation"

Interestingly, study co-author Stephanie Melillo told Reuters, "The fact that these two very closely related species were overlapping both temporally and spatially brings up new questions about whether they were competing for resources like food or space." Haile-Selassie added, "What we are seeing here is that our evolution was not entirely characterized by a linear transformation by one species to another."

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Siddhant Pandey
Siddhant Pandey
Twitter
Siddhant Pandey covers national and health news at NewsBytes. He has over five years of experience working as a multimedia journalist covering hard news in New Delhi. He was previously employed with The Indian Express and News World India and has juggled roles as a correspondent, copy editor, and video producer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida.
Latest
Ethiopia
Latest
Maserati Cielo convertible to break cover on May 25
Maserati Cielo convertible to break cover on May 25 Auto
5 films that deal with postpartum depression
5 films that deal with postpartum depression Entertainment
French Open, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Rivalry in numbers
French Open, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Rivalry in numbers Sports
Statistical comparison of 'Big Titles' between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal
Statistical comparison of 'Big Titles' between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal Sports
Vivo S15 Pro announced with MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC
Vivo S15 Pro announced with MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC Technology
Ethiopia
Witnesses say airstrike in Ethiopia's Tigray has killed dozens
Witnesses say airstrike in Ethiopia's Tigray has killed dozens World
'Heartless' crooner The Weeknd to donate $1mn to conflict-ridden Ethiopia
'Heartless' crooner The Weeknd to donate $1mn to conflict-ridden Ethiopia Entertainment
Donald Trump nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize: Here's why
Donald Trump nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize: Here's why World
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize World
Ethiopian woman writes exam from hospital, right after giving birth
Ethiopian woman writes exam from hospital, right after giving birth World
More News
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love Technology news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022