Abstract
Understanding the extinction of Australopithecus and origins of Paranthropus and Homo in South Africa has been hampered by the perceived complex geological context of hominin fossils, poor chronological resolution, and a lack of well-preserved early Homo specimens. We describe, date, and contextualize the discovery of two hominin crania from Drimolen Main Quarry in South Africa. At ~2.04 million to 1.95 million years old, DNH 152 represents the earliest definitive occurrence of Paranthropus robustus, and DNH 134 represents the earliest occurrence of a cranium with clear affinities to Homo erectus. These crania also show that Homo, Paranthropus, and Australopithecus were contemporaneous at ~2 million years ago. This high taxonomic diversity is also reflected in non-hominin species and provides evidence of endemic evolution and dispersal during a period of climatic variability.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | eaaw7293 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 368 |
Issue number | 6486 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Apr 2020 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Multidisciplinary
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Contemporaneity of australopithecus, paranthropus, and early homo erectus in South Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Press/Media
-
-
Our direct human ancestor Homo erectus is older than we thought
6/04/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
-
Homo erectus Existed 200,000 Years Earlier than Previously Thought
3/04/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media