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Homo erectus fossil discoveries in South Africa

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2026-10-10 14:36 UTC → 2026-10-22 17:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Archaeologists and an international research team have described 18 new hominin fossils discovered at the Drimolen Main Quarry in South Africa. The findings identify remains from two distinct species: Homo erectus and Paranthropus robustus. A significant component of the discovery is a skull fragment of an adult Homo erectus, designated DNH 127, which is estimated to be approximately 2 million years old. This specimen represents the first adult Homo erectus attributed to the Drimolen site, providing context to a 2020 discovery of a child's skull (DNH 134) from the same area. The age of this fragment suggests that Homo erectus appeared in South Africa roughly 200,000 years earlier than previously thought, predating known adult specimens from other regions like Dmanisi, Georgia. The research, detailed in the journal ‘Annals of Human Biology’, also highlights evolutionary divergence between the two species coexisting in the region. While Homo erectus exhibited larger brains and smaller molars, Paranthropus robustus underwent microevolution resulting in larger teeth and stronger chewing muscles. At the time of these fossils, Paranthropus robustus was significantly more numerous in the Drimolen area than Homo erectus. The dating of the site was confirmed using multiple methods, including paleomagnetism and uranium-lead dating of flowstones.

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