Researchers Stunned as New Fossil Discovery Pushes the Date of Presence of Hominins by Half a Million Years

A new study indicates that hominins were present in Europe 1.95 million years ago, pushing the date of their existence by half a million years in the continent, compared to the previously collected evidence. The fossils based on which this assertion has been made were spotted in Romania, stated Phys.org. Examining these fossils revealed new insights to researchers about the early hominins who lived on the continent. Findings regarding these remains at Grăunceanu have been published in Nature.

Researchers have always found it difficult to determine when hominins entered Europe. Fossil evidence found in the past from Dmanisi, Georgia dated 1.85–1.77 million years, was the oldest evidence of hominin activity in the continent before this finding. Grăunceanu from where the fossils on which the study is centered were found, is located inside the late Villafranchian biochronological zone. Researchers took into consideration 4,524 fossils from the area. The remains were examined on many aspects like anthropogenic cut marks, root etching, and weathering. Linear marks were examined using 3D optical profilometry.

Twenty bones showcased anthropogenic surface modifications, amongst which seven had high-confidence cut marks. These marks were observed on animal tibiae and mandibles. The pattern of these marks was straight and had transverse trajectories, which was consistent with defleshing. Seven dentine samples from Grăunceanu and two from the nearby area were made to undergo high-precision laser ablation U-Pb. The test indicated that the depositional age of all these remains was 1.95 million years old.

Based on the patterns noted on the cut marks, researchers concluded, they were made by early hominins with the help of stone tools. "The discovery of these cut marks is significant because it pushes back the timeline of hominin activity in Eurasia,"  Ohio University Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Sabrina Curran said, according to Science Daily. "While evidence of stone tools has been found in other parts of the world, the presence of these marks on bones offers a rare and valuable glimpse into the behavior of early human ancestors."

The study made use of past findings from excavations in Romania. These bones were curated in the "Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology and the Museum of Oltenia when researchers associated with the study decided to analyze them. "We didn't initially expect to find much," Curran explained. "But during a routine check of the collections we found several cut marked bones. This led to further investigation in collaboration with Dr. Briana Pobiner of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Michael Pante, of Colorado State University, and the discovery of other distinct marks across different bones, suggesting deliberate butchering activities."

The finding established Grăunceanu as the oldest known site of hominin activity in Eurasia. Isotope analysis was used to recreate the environment in which these hominins lived. Results showcased that they faced seasonal fluctuations, and enjoyed a healthy amount of rainfall. "The Grăunceanu site represents a pivotal moment in our understanding of human prehistory, Curran said. "It demonstrates that early hominins had already begun to explore and inhabit diverse environments across Eurasia, showing an adaptability that would later play a crucial role in their survival and spread."

The other fossils in the area gave researchers an idea about the expertise held by early hominins. "The evidence coming out of Romania suggests that early hominins were much more adaptable than we previously thought," Curran added. "These early humans were capable of surviving and thriving in a variety of environments."