Recently, fossils discovered in Morocco may help answer a big question in human evolution: who existed before us? Scientists uncovered three jawbones, some teeth, vertebrae, and a femur in a cave called Grotte à Hominidés in Casablanca. These finds date back 773,000 years and mark the first hominin fossils found from this period in Africa.
Jean-Jacques Hublin, a paleoanthropologist and study author, highlights a significant gap in the fossil record around one million to five hundred thousand years ago. “Having fossils from this part of the timeline is thrilling,” he says. The newly discovered fossils show a mix of old and modern features. They lack a defined chin like modern humans but possess dental traits similar to both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
Most of these fossils were found between 2008 and 2009, but only recently were they accurately dated. Researchers used paleomagnetism to determine the age. This technique assesses the Earth’s magnetic field shifts, which helped pinpoint the fossils to a well-known period of polar reversal.
Hublin notes the cave where these fossils were found wasn’t just a home; it was dangerous. Many bones had bite marks from predators, particularly hyenas. Searching for human origins in Africa has always been vital, as it offers unique insights into the human story. Interestingly, the oldest known Homo sapiens remains were also found in Morocco, dating to around 400,000 years ago. However, Hublin emphasizes that Morocco might not be the exact birthplace of modern humans but could be favorable for fossil preservation.
The newly uncovered fossils connect to our closest human relatives: Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens, the latter being the only surviving species among them. While Neanderthals and Denisovans went extinct roughly 40,000 years ago, the exact timeline for Denisovans remains uncertain.
According to Antonio Rosas, a researcher in Madrid, understanding the last common ancestor—often referred to as “ancestor x”—is crucial. This figure lived between 550,000 to 765,000 years ago but remains elusive. Theories suggest candidates like Homo antecessor or Homo heidelbergensis may hold clues.
Recent research points towards a possible connection between these Moroccan fossils and Homo erectus, though they haven’t been officially named yet. This opens a fascinating question: did populations of Homo erectus directly lead to modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, or were there other changes along the way?
Carrie Mongle, an anthropology professor, underscores the importance of these findings. “Any fossil from this key time period is an exciting glimpse into human evolution,” she says. Understanding our origins continues to be a rich terrain for inquiry, and every new discovery enhances this narrative.
For more on this topic, check out research published in Nature.
