(CNN) – Scientists have discovered the oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa, estimated to be between 177,000 and 194,000 years old, according to a new study in the journal Science. The fossil of an upper jawbone that included several teeth was found in a prehistoric cave site, Misliya Cave, in Israel. Stone tools were also recovered at the site.
This suggests that modern humans may have been on the move, specifically migrating from Africa, at least 50,000 years earlier than previously believed. It helps to explain previous findings of modern human fossils in other parts of the world, which have been dated 90,000 to 120,000 years ago.
This rewrites the timeline of what we know about how Homo sapiens spread.
“We now have clear fossil evidence that modern humans moved out of Africa earlier than we previously believed,” Rolf Quam, study coauthor and anthropology professor at Binghamton University, said in an email. “There have been previous suggestions of a possible earlier migration, relying on both archaeological sites and ancient DNA studies, but now we have an actual human fossil that proves it.”
Three different dating techniques were used to confirm the fossil’s age and classify it as Homo sapien, rather than Neanderthal or some other early human ancestor.
The features of the jaw and teeth are unmistakably human, the researchers said.
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A look at five amazing archaeological finds from the past five years:
1. The oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa
2. Fossilized dinosaur eggs
3. Roman tablet referencing "London"
4. Ancient fingerprints
5. A Dead Sea Scrolls cave https://t.co/PCpAqY7b25 pic.twitter.com/glPPFTisFQ— CNN (@CNN) January 25, 2018
The oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa — an upper jawbone and several teeth — has been found in a prehistoric cave site in Israel, researchers say https://t.co/ps5H19DokU pic.twitter.com/KxSHwtByAB
— CNN (@CNN) January 25, 2018
“Scientists have discovered the oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa, estimated to be between 177,000 and 194,000 years old”
It is amazing to me that after that many years anything but dust would be left. Fascinating!
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