A cranium discovered at the base of a well on a river in northeast China for over 80 years might belong to a previously unknown species of hominid that modern scientists call “Dragon man.” The find is the first addition to the human species’ family tree and represents an anatomically diverse group of archaic humanoids that lived along the coastal margins of Asia and New Zealand. Across the world, paleoartists are putting a new twist on an old motif-the origin of humanity. New fossils and molecular analyses suggest these archaic beings may also have been browsed by sharks. If so, this discovery pushes back the time of human evolution by several tens of thousands of years.
Dr. Mike Wellman of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, and his colleagues announced the discovery in June at the meeting of the American Association for the Study of Cancer. They dated the cranium to about two hundred thousand years ago, and based on its shape and structure, they tentatively concluded it belonged to a species called H. erectus. The discovery was reported in the journal Nature and Scientific Research online, and Wellman is hoping for a firm conclusion by next summer. The scientific research leader, Dr. Robert Sayyard of France’s University Hospital in Caen, thinks there is enough evidence to justify calling the cranium a member of the species H. erectus. Other experts, however, are less confident in declaring it so.
News of the new species and the stringer said there is a chance the remains will reveal other hominid species. The discovery was made in the coastal area of China’s Hubei Province, and the research leader and colleague, Dr. Yang, was quoted as saying, “If these teeth can be compared to the fossils of modern humans, then it would mean that the species that lived more than half a million years ago looked very similar to modern people.” However, other experts have cast doubt on the claims, and they point out that the size of the teeth and the fact that they are located in a groove that are unique to humans, and not found in any other animals.
The main problem with this kind of theory, according to some experts, is that the stringer did not notice that there were other animals among the hominids in the same region. He says there is only one instance in which another animal has been found in the same area, and that animal is not closely related to modern humans. This leaves the possibility open that there may be different species of human and other hominids that interbreeding. In addition, Dr. Yang pointed out that modern humans do not usually wear dentures. They use their hands to hold themselves together.
There are several theories that the discovery could be from ancient human remains that were discovered in the same region. One theory states that these discoveries prove that ancient man migrated from Africa to Asia and back through the ice. Another suggests that these early humans, which are believed to be closely related to modern humans, are the direct ancestors of modern Asian immigrants. There are also researchers who believe that the skull is that of an archaic hominid, which is close to the modern human species.
This discovery suggests that there are several thousand years of overlap between modern human beings and archaic hominids. It also indicates that modern humans are not the direct descendants of this extinct lineage. This is contrary to earlier theories that the origin of modern humans could be traced to anatomically modern skulls and jaws that look very similar to that of an archaic hominid. The discovery suggests that this extinct lineage used its technology in farming and fishing to enhance its existence in pre-Cladassic times. Through the study of teeth and jaws, paleo anthropologists have been able to discover details about the lifestyle of this extinct species.
The Denisovaodon is one of the many species of dinosaurs that stands tall in the fossil record. Its name comes from two different genes that are present in all modern humans, that contributed to its evolution. The most prominent genetic feature is chromosome number X, which is only found in Denisova and modern humans. Other genes exist in a variety of other species, but are not present in Denisova and other modern human populations. Through the study of DNA, this research has been able to determine the relationship of this extinct species to modern humans.
The study of fossils helps us understand the evolution of our species. It is known that every species evolved from ancient creatures that lived in the Old World, but only a few specimens have been discovered in Asia. These fossils date back to about 250 million years ago. The latest discovery sheds light on the lifestyle of this species. Because it is so old, it gives scientists an idea about how the ecosystem was changing at that time.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
