Spanish fossils may represent unknown ancient human species

MADRID, Spain: Scientists have unearthed in Spain fossilized facial bones roughly 1.1 million to 1.4 million years old that may represent a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage - a discovery that rewrites humankind’s early history in Europe.

The fossils from the Sima del Elefante cave site near the city of Burgos comprise fragments spanning 80 percent of the left side of an adult individual’s middle face, including parts of the cheekbone and upper jaw with the nasal structure. They are among the oldest-known human fossils from Europe.

The researchers nicknamed the fossil “Pink,” honoring the band Pink Floyd.

Pink’s facial anatomy was more primitive than that of Homo antecessor, a species known to have inhabited Western Europe roughly 850,000 years ago whose slender midface resembled modern people. Pink possessed a more projected and massive midface than Homo antecessor, and displayed some similarities to - but also differences with - Homo erectus, thought to be the first human species to have migrated out of Africa.