Johannesburg, Dec.24 (SANA) A newly published scientific study is reigniting debate over human evolution in Africa after researchers suggested that the famous “Little Foot” fossil may belong to a previously unidentified species of early human ancestors.
The fossil, estimated to be more than three million years old, was analyzed in a study published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology. Researchers say its anatomical features do not fully align with any known hominin species, raising the possibility that it represents a distinct branch of the human family tree.
The research was led by Jesse Martin of La Trobe University in Australia, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Cambridge. According to the study, key differences were found in the base of the skull and the length of the spinal cord, features that may distinguish “Little Foot” from other early hominins.
Discovered in South Africa’s Sterkfontein Caves, the fossil was first uncovered in 1994 but was only formally introduced to the scientific community in 2017 after years of careful excavation and analysis. It is regarded as one of the most complete early human skeletons ever found.
Scientists remain divided over the fossil’s precise age. Some place it at around 3.67 million years old, while others argue it is closer to 2.8 million years old. The disagreement underscores ongoing challenges in reconstructing the complex and diverse evolutionary history of early humans in Africa.
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