New type of early human found in Israel

Bones of a "new type of early human" have been uncovered in Israel.

The discovery, which has been dated to around 130,000 years ago, has surprised researchers. They were unaware that there was a type of human in the area at that time other than Homo sapiens.

When researcher Dr Hila May looked at the bones, she noticed that the skull had no chin; something that all Homo sapiens have.

Dr Hila May: "However, when we looked at these bones, we immediately saw that it's about a different type of human. It's not Homo sapien, Homo sapiens. The skull - the fragment of the skull - indicated a very low skull and flat, not like us that is rounded and tall, and the mandible had no chin. And we know the chin is something that only we have, the Homo sapiens. So, we immediately know, understood that we have something else. And the question was what it is."

Scientists believe the bones belonged to a type of human that was related to Neanderthals, another type of early human.

Dr Hila May: "But what, what we have found is that the "Nesher Ramla Homo type" is actually the population source of the Neanderthals and - which migrated from here to Europe."

The find challenges the theory that Neanderthals originated in Europe. The Israeli scientists now believe that Neanderthals may have migrated there from the Middle East.

Not everyone is convinced by the Israeli researchers' new theory. While scientists agree that there was another type of early human on the Earth at that time, many are calling for further research to be done.

View Less