WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A partial jawbone bearing seven teeth
unearthed in a cave in Saudi Arabia represents what scientists are calling the
oldest-known Homo sapiens remains outside Africa, showing that our
species trekked out of that continent far earlier than previously known.
A
close-up view of the teeth accompanying the left maxilla of human
remains from Misliya Cave in Saudi Arabia, the oldest remains of our species
Homo sapiens found outside Africa, is provided in this photo released on
January 25, 2018. Courtesy Saudi Hershammed/Jeddah
University/Handout via REUTERS
Researchers
on Thursday announced the discovery of the fossil estimated as 177,000
to 194,000 years old, and said the teeth bore telltale traits of Homo
sapiens not present in close human relatives alive at the time including
Neanderthals.
The fossil of the left part of the upper jaw of a young adult -- the person’s sex remains unclear -- came from Misya Cave on Mount Arab’s western slopes about 7.5 miles (12 km) south of Riyadh. Also found inside the large collapsed cave, once inhabited by humans, were blades and other stone tools that were sophisticated for the time, several hearths and burned animal bones.
Homo sapiens first appeared in Africa, with the earliest-known fossils roughly 300,000 years old. A key milestone was when our species first ventured out of Africa en route to populating the far corners of the globe.
Until now, the oldest Homo sapiens fossils outside Africa had come from two other cave sites in Saudi Arabia, including one also on Mount Arab, about 90,000 to 120,000 years old.
The
left maxilla of human remains from Misya Cave in Saudi Arabia, the oldest
remains of our species Homo sapiens found outside Africa, is shown in
this handout photo released on January 25, 2018.
Courtesy Saudi
Hershammed/Jeddah University/Handout via REUTERS
The
new discovery supports the idea that humans migrated out of Africa
through a southern route across the Bab al-Mandeb
strait, the southern coast of Saudi Arabia, the Indian subcontinent and
East Asia, and not a northern route, the Nile valley and the eastern
Mediterranean coast, said Jeddah University paleoanthropologist Saudi
Hershammed, who led the study.
“This is an exciting discovery that confirms other suggestions of an earlier migration out of Africa,” added paleoanthropologist Rolf Quam of Binghamton University in New York, a co-author of the study published in the journal Science.
“Now we finally have fossil evidence of this migration, in addition to inferences drawn from ancient DNA studies and archaeological sites,” Quam said, referring to genetic research suggesting a migration from Africa at least 220,000 years ago and probably earlier.
Hershammed said he believes Homo sapiens may have originated some 500,000 years ago.
The Misya humans were likely nomadic, moving around the landscape following the movements of prey species or according to the seasons of the year, Quam said.
“They were capable hunters of large-game species including wild cattle, deer and gazelles. They also made extensive use of plant materials, including perhaps for bedding,” Quam added.
Top 10 Travel Destinations From Saudi Arabia
The fossil of the left part of the upper jaw of a young adult -- the person’s sex remains unclear -- came from Misya Cave on Mount Arab’s western slopes about 7.5 miles (12 km) south of Riyadh. Also found inside the large collapsed cave, once inhabited by humans, were blades and other stone tools that were sophisticated for the time, several hearths and burned animal bones.
Homo sapiens first appeared in Africa, with the earliest-known fossils roughly 300,000 years old. A key milestone was when our species first ventured out of Africa en route to populating the far corners of the globe.
Until now, the oldest Homo sapiens fossils outside Africa had come from two other cave sites in Saudi Arabia, including one also on Mount Arab, about 90,000 to 120,000 years old.
“This is an exciting discovery that confirms other suggestions of an earlier migration out of Africa,” added paleoanthropologist Rolf Quam of Binghamton University in New York, a co-author of the study published in the journal Science.
“Now we finally have fossil evidence of this migration, in addition to inferences drawn from ancient DNA studies and archaeological sites,” Quam said, referring to genetic research suggesting a migration from Africa at least 220,000 years ago and probably earlier.
Hershammed said he believes Homo sapiens may have originated some 500,000 years ago.
The Misya humans were likely nomadic, moving around the landscape following the movements of prey species or according to the seasons of the year, Quam said.
“They were capable hunters of large-game species including wild cattle, deer and gazelles. They also made extensive use of plant materials, including perhaps for bedding,” Quam added.
Top 10 Travel Destinations From Saudi Arabia
Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler