Georgian fossils 'indicate humans lived in Europe thousands of years earlier'

Humans may have lived outside Africa hundreds of thousands of years earlier than first thought, fossilised evidence suggests.

By Andrew Hough
Published: 7:10AM BST
09 Sep 2009

A skull found by scientists in Georgia has been dated back 1.8 million years - about 800,000 years before the first humans were thought to have left the region.

The skull was one of five remains of primitive humans found at the Dmanisi archaeological site, south-west of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the British Science Festival heard on Tuesday.

The fossils, two males and three females, are understood to be early Homo erectus, a forerunner of modern human.

Palaeontologist experts said the partial skeletons, which represent some of the earliest humans discovered outside Africa, challenge theories that our ancestors evolved entirely on the continent.

It has led to suggestions that man travelled to Georgia from Africa before returning to the continent, then heading back to Europe about 800,000 years later.

Prof David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum, Tblisi, told the festival that some Homo erectus may have left Africa for the continent before returning much later.

Primitive humans were said to be short, he said, with small brains and strongly developed legs while the evidence suggested they lived alongside predators such as sabre-toothed cats.

He reported they were found next to stone tools and animal bones bearing cut marks, lead to suggestions that they prepared meat for food.

“The Dmanisi people were almost modern in body proportions and were highly efficient walkers and runners,” he said

“Their arms moved in a different way, and their brains were tiny compared to ours.

“They were sophisticated tool makers with high social and cognitive skills.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/evolution/6159294/Georgian-fossils-indicate-humans-lived-in-Europe-thousands-of-years-earlier.html