最新研究刷新人类演化时间线

Core Viewpoint - The research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified a new evolutionary branch related to the mysterious Denisovans, named "Longren" (Homo longi), based on a skull fossil dated to approximately 1 million years ago, significantly advancing the timeline of human evolution [1][7]. Group 1: Research Findings - The skull fossil, known as "Yunxian Man 2," was discovered in Hubei Province in 1990 and was initially classified as a Homo erectus due to its severe damage and deformation at the time of discovery [3][5]. - Advanced techniques such as high-precision CT scanning and structured light surface scanning were employed to reconstruct the skull, revealing a blend of primitive and advanced features, with a brain capacity exceeding 1100 milliliters [5][7]. - The findings suggest that human ancestors had already diverged into multiple independent evolutionary groups as early as 1 million years ago, indicating a more complex evolutionary history than previously understood [7][8]. Group 2: Implications for Human Evolution - The study clarifies the evolutionary timeline between 1 million and 300,000 years ago, highlighting the complexity and diversity of early human species [8]. - The Longren branch is closely related to modern humans, indicating that many Middle Pleistocene human fossils from Asia can be classified under this lineage, including those from various archaeological sites [7].