Researchers at the Omo Kibish Formation in Ethiopia.
(Photo:Celine Vidal)
How old is our human species?
This question is a tricky one.
Researchers at the Omo Kibish Formation in Ethiopia. (Photo:Céline Vidal)
Our genusHomoevolved from the more ancientAustralopithecusaround 2.8 million years ago.
Scientists examining fossils believe modern humansscientifically known asHomo sapiensonly emerged around 300,000 years ago.
They continue to learn more about this process by examining the fossil record.
The East Africa Rift Valley. (Photo:Céline Vidal)
A new study published inNatureis an example of such continuing study.
The Omo I fossils were discovered in the late 1960s in Omo National Park in Ethiopia.
While not a full skeleton, the remains are those of a Homo sapien with many modern traits.
The Jebel Irhoud Homo Sapien Skull found in Morocco, possibly the oldest Homo sapien fossil. (Photo: Ryan Somma viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 2.0)
The bones themselves were layered between solidified volcanic ash which has created beautiful rock ridges within the park.
Since their discovery, the Omo I bones have been widely studied.
This is done by grinding down volcanic stone and analyzing the mineral content for its chemical signature.
Early human migration, measured in thousands of years. (Photo: Dbachmann viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
This testing led to a surprising discovery.
This means the fossilized bones are themselves actually at least 230,000 years old.
The East Africa Rift Valley.
The Jebel Irhoud Homo Sapien Skull found in Morocco, possibly the oldest Homo sapien fossil.
Early human migration, measured in thousands of years.
