Scientists Reconstruct Skull of 1.6-Million-Year-Old Ethiopian Homo Erectus

Is it possible to reconstruct the face of a human ancestor that lived 1.6 million years ago? Sure, because scientists have just reconstructed the face of a 1.6-Million-Year-Old Homo erectus from Ethiopia, sparking curiosity.

According to the publication, paleoanthropologist Karen L. Baab and an international team of scientists created a virtual reconstruction of the face of the Homo erectus she claims is DAN5. The individual’s remains were found fossilized at the site of Gona in Ethiopia’s Afar region. 

3D Models Help in Facial Printing

3D models have become popular, especially when it comes to digitizing ancient artefact. In this reconstruction of the ancient face, the team also used 3D computer models to make the facial fragments made with CT scans fitted together virtually, and teeth added to the upper jaw when possible.

They also used a scan of the brain case to virtually attach to the reconstructed face. The study suggests that this Homo erectus individual had a typical Homo erectus braincase, but a face with a flatter nose bridge and larger molars, more like those found in older species. Head of the team Baab commenting said:

“We already knew that the DAN5 fossil had a small brain, but this new reconstruction shows that the face is also more primitive than classic African Homo erectus of the same antiquity. The oldest fossils belonging to Homo erectus are from Africa, and the new fossil reconstruction shows that transitional fossils also existed there, so it makes sense that this species emerged on the continent,” 

She further stated that the DAN5 fossil postdates the initial exit from Africa, which could imply that the Gona population retained the anatomy of the population that originally migrated out of Africa approximately 300,000 years earlier.

Recent Groundbreaking Discoveries in Science

The reconstruction of the Homo erectus face using 3D modelling is one of several discoveries that have been made recently. Scientists have been using modern tools to aid in their work, such as leveraging AI to uncover nature’s hidden laws. 

They have also discovered an ancient campfire site that made scientists question the history of human evolution. The study reveals that fire was used 400,000 years ago, contrary to the initial belief that it was only used about 50,000 years ago.

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