A fossilized partial skull, discovered in northern Spain’s Atapuerca Mountains in 2022, has been identified as the oldest known human ancestor fossil in western Europe. This discovery, detailed in the journal Nature, is estimated to be between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old. The fossil includes a section of the left cheekbone and upper jaw, providing significant evidence that early human ancestors ventured into western Europe much earlier than previously confirmed. Although older fossils, dating back approximately 1.8 million years, were discovered in Georgia, this Spanish fossil is the earliest evidence of early humans exploring the western part of the continent. Researchers have noted similarities between the fossil and Homo erectus, a species that emerged around 2 million years ago and migrated from Africa to parts of Asia and Europe before gradually disappearing about 100,000 years ago.

Identifying the specific species linked to a single bone fragment presents considerable challenges, as noted by experts not involved in the study. Anatomical differences suggest potential variations within known species, making classification arduous. The discovery reinforces the theory that early human populations occasionally explored new regions but may not have established long-term settlements. Researchers emphasize that this finding expands current knowledge of human migration patterns, highlighting that western Europe may have played a more prominent role in early human dispersal than previously assumed. The Atapuerca site continues to offer remarkable insights into the evolutionary past, with earlier discoveries of Neanderthal and early Homo sapiens remains contributing to the region’s significance in paleoanthropological research.