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| The fossilized skull of Homo erectus discovered at the site of the grotto of Hualong, in the district of Dongzhi, in the Chinese province of Anhui [Credit: Xinhua] |
HEFEI, 20 nov (Xinhua) -- Los científicos chinos han descubierto un cráneo fosilizado de un homo erectus en la provincia oriental de Anhui, en el este del país, se informó hoy viernes.
El fósil es el último descubrimiento en el sitio arqueológico Hualongdong, en el distrito de Dongzhi de la provincia, señaló Liu Wu, científico en el Instituto de Paleontología de Vertebrados y Paleoantropología de la Academia de Ciencias de China.
El cráneo, que muestra la cara de un homo erectus, se ha mantenido bien conservado. Se remonta a entre 150.000 y 412.000 años o más, apuntó Liu, quien añadió que la edad exacta todavía espera más exámenes.
Hualongdong es otro sitio importante de homo erectus después de las otras localidades en el país, entre ellas, Zhoukoudian, donde vivían los Hombres de Beijing, Lantian, Hexian y Nanjing, indicó Liu.
La exploración arqueológica en Hualongdong empezó en 2006. Más de 6.000 fósiles de animales vertebrados y objetos de barro han sido desenterrados. Piezas del cráneo, dientes y huesos también han sido encontrados.
''Es muy raro que hayamos encontrado fósiles de tanta variedad en un solo sitio'', explicó Liu.
''Este descubrimiento cuenta con valores significantes para la investigación de la evolución humana en China y Asia Oriental'', agregó Liu.
HEFEI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese archaeologists have discovered an "uncommonly well-preserved" fossilized skull of homo erectus in east China, providing more valuable material in the study of the evolution and distribution of early man.
The fossil is the latest discovery from the Hualongdong archaeological site in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, which the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) has been combing through since summer 2006.
This is proving to be another important site for homo erectus after findings were made in Zhoukoudian, where Peking Man lived, Lantian in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Anhui's Hexian County, and Nanjing in the eastern Jiangsu Province, said Liu Wu, the IVPP researcher in charge of the excavation.
The skull at the center of this discovery, named Dongzhi Man, was found along with an assortment of stone implements, other human teeth and bone fragments, as well as more than 6,000 bone fossils belonging to vertebrate animals including stegodon, giant tapir and giant pandas.
"All of these indicate the site is exactly where the Dongzhi men lived as we found the bones of the animals were broken in a quite unnatural way. To put it more precisely, they were cut or chopped with tools into small pieces, meaning the animals were eaten or used as sacrifices," said Liu.
The highlight of the findings, the skull was discovered on Oct. 11. It was partly encased in earth, which helped protect it. The face can be clearly made out, including the complete eye socket, a large part of nasal bone and cheekbones.
"Discovering a well-preserved ancient human skull fossil is a dream come true for a paleoanthropologist, so our whole team were so happily surprised," said Liu.
"A skull carries much more information than any other human bone. With it, it's easier for us to restore the look of the human being and ultimately determine its origin," he said.
The skull is between 150,000 and 412,000 or more years old, Liu said, adding that further analysis will be done to determine its exact age...
The fossil is the latest discovery from the Hualongdong archaeological site in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, which the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) has been combing through since summer 2006.
This is proving to be another important site for homo erectus after findings were made in Zhoukoudian, where Peking Man lived, Lantian in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Anhui's Hexian County, and Nanjing in the eastern Jiangsu Province, said Liu Wu, the IVPP researcher in charge of the excavation.
The skull at the center of this discovery, named Dongzhi Man, was found along with an assortment of stone implements, other human teeth and bone fragments, as well as more than 6,000 bone fossils belonging to vertebrate animals including stegodon, giant tapir and giant pandas.
"All of these indicate the site is exactly where the Dongzhi men lived as we found the bones of the animals were broken in a quite unnatural way. To put it more precisely, they were cut or chopped with tools into small pieces, meaning the animals were eaten or used as sacrifices," said Liu.
The highlight of the findings, the skull was discovered on Oct. 11. It was partly encased in earth, which helped protect it. The face can be clearly made out, including the complete eye socket, a large part of nasal bone and cheekbones.
"Discovering a well-preserved ancient human skull fossil is a dream come true for a paleoanthropologist, so our whole team were so happily surprised," said Liu.
"A skull carries much more information than any other human bone. With it, it's easier for us to restore the look of the human being and ultimately determine its origin," he said.
The skull is between 150,000 and 412,000 or more years old, Liu said, adding that further analysis will be done to determine its exact age...
Vídeo: Scientists find new homo erectus skull fossil in E China
Ver en PaleoVídeos > L.R.2.9 nº 9.
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