中国新研究刷新人类演化时间线

Core Viewpoint - A newly analyzed ancient human skull fossil, approximately 1 million years old, challenges traditional human evolution theories, revealing a new evolutionary branch closely related to the Denisovans, named "Longren" (Homo longi) [2][5]. Group 1: Research Findings - The research led by Ni Xijun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences indicates that the divergence time of modern humans, Neanderthals, and the Longren branch has been significantly pushed forward, surpassing previous academic consensus [2][5]. - The skull fossil, known as "Yunxian Man 2," was discovered in Hubei Province in 1990 and was initially classified as Homo erectus due to its damaged state at the time of discovery [3][4]. - The reconstructed skull exhibits a blend of primitive and advanced features, with a brain capacity exceeding 1100 milliliters, indicating a complex evolutionary history [4][5]. Group 2: Methodology - The research team utilized high-precision CT scanning and surface scanning technologies to identify features of the fossil, followed by innovative digital reconstruction methods to piece together the skull [4]. - A new statistical framework was developed to validate the reconstruction results, addressing a long-standing challenge in paleobiology [4]. Group 3: Implications - The findings suggest that the Yunxian Man is an early representative of the Longren branch, indicating that human ancestors had already diverged into multiple independent evolutionary groups as early as 1 million years ago [5]. - The research provides clarity on the evolutionary timeline between 1 million and 300,000 years ago, highlighting the complexity of human origins [5].