Experts believe the skull of an ancient African human was discovered by accident.
Homo bodoensis was the new species. It lived in the Middle Pleistocene around 500,000 years ago.
Researchers from the University of Winnipeg believe that the discovery will help to clarify this period in human evolution, which is still not fully understood.
Mirjana Roksandic was the lead researcher of the study. She stated that it was impossible to talk about human evolution during this period due to a lack of appropriate terminology that recognizes human geographical variation.
Experts believe that a new species of ancient African human was discovered in Africa. (Artist’s impression pictured).
The researchers have now concluded that a skull found in Bodo D’ar in Ethiopia is not a part of H. heidelbergensis and H. rhodesiensis. Instead, it could be a completely different species.
The researchers reviewed fossils from Eurasia and Africa dating back to the Middle Plistocene period.
These fossils were previously identified as either Homo heidelbergensis, or Homo rhodesiensis.
Recent DNA evidence has revealed that some fossils in Europe, identified as H. heidelbergensis, were actually early Neanderthals.
Moreover, African fossils found during this period have been identified as H. heidelbergensis as well H. rhodesiensis. This confusion adds to the confusion.
The researchers have now concluded that a skull found in Bodo D’ar in Ethiopia is not a part of H. heidelbergensis and H. rhodesiensis. Instead, it could be a new species.
In honor of the site where the skull was discovered, H. bodoensis has been named by the researchers.
While little is know about the new species yet, the researchers believe that H. bodoensis had a short, stocky body adapted to conserve heat in colder climates.
Males were likely 5′ 9″ tall and weighed nearly 10 stone, while females averaged around 5′ 2 in (157cm) and 8 stone.
Although little is known about the new species, researchers believe H. bodoensis was a stocky, short-bodied species that was able to conserve heat in colder environments.
The species became extinct around 200 000 years ago, long before modern humans left Africa.
Moving forward, most Middle Pleistocene human beings from Africa and Southeast Europe will be classified H. Bodoensis. Many from the latter continent will be reclassified to Neanderthals.
Predrag Radović, an author of the study, said: ‘Terms need to be clear in science, to facilitate communication. They should not be considered absolute if they contradict the fossil record.
The team hopes that the findings will help ‘cut the Gordion Knot’ and provide a better understanding for the Middle Pleistocene.
Dr Roksandic said: “Naming a new specie is a big deal because the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature permits name changes only under very strict rules.
“We are confident this one will stay around for a long while, a new name will live only if it is used by other researchers.”
In honour of the location in which the skull was discovered — Bodo D’ar — the researchers have named the species H. bodoensis
WHEN DID THE FIRST HUMAN ANCESTORS EMERGE?
The timeline of human development can be traced back thousands of years. Experts believe that the family tree is as follows:
55 million years ago – First primitive primates evolve
15 million years ago – Hominidae (great Apes) evolved from the gibbon’s ancestors.
7 million years ago – First gorillas evolve. Later, chimps and humans diverge
Pictured is a recreation of a Neanderthal Man
5.5 million years ago – Ardipithecus, an early proto-human, shares traits with gorillas and chimps
4 million years ago – The Australopithecines, a kind of early humans, appeared. They had brains no bigger than chimpanzees, but had other human-like characteristics.
3.9-2.9 Million years ago– Australoipithecus Afarensis was a native of Africa.
2.27 million years ago – Paranthropus, lived in woods and had massive jaws for chewing
2.6 million years ago Hand axes are the first major technological breakthrough
2.3 Million years ago – Homo habilis first thought to have appeared in Africa
1.85 million years ago– The First Modern Hand Emerges
1.8 million years ago – Homo ergaster begins to appear in fossil record
800,000 years ago – Early humans controlled fire and created hearths. Rapid growth in brain size
400,000 years of agricultureO – Neanderthals first begin to appear and spread across Europe and Asia
300,000. to 200,000 years ago – Homo sapiens – modern humans – appear in Africa
50,000 to 40,000 years ago – Modern humans reach Europe