Hualongdong people

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The Hualongdong people are extinct humans that lived in eastern China around 300,000 years ago during the late Middle Pleistocene.[1][2] Discovered by a research team led by Xiujie Wu and Liu Wu, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, from the Hualong Cave (pinyin: huálóng dòng; lit.'flowery/elegant dragon cave') in Dongzhi County at Anhui Province in 2006, they are known from about 30 fossils that belong to 16 individuals.[3] The first analysis of the skull fragments collected in 2006 suggested that they could be members of Homo erectus.[4] For some of the specimens, their exact position as a human species is not known. More complete fossils found in 2015 indicate that they cannot be directly assigned to any Homo species as they also exhibit archaic human features. They are the first humans in Asia to have both archaic and modern human features. They are likely a distinct species that form a separate branch in the human family tree.[5][6][7]

Discovery

Chen Shengqian and Luo Hu, historical investigators in Dongzhi County, found the Hualong Cave in 2004,[8] or 2005.[9] With the help of palaeontologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by Xiujie Wu and Liu Wu, they discovered the cave as a palaeontological site in 2006.[10][11] Initial excavation yielded human remains comprising a single tooth (lower second molar), designated specimen HLD (for Hualongdong) 1, and two pieces of a skull bone (frontal fragments) from one individual, labelled HLD 2.[4][8]

A series of excavations was organised between 2014 and 2016 by which many animal fossils and stone tools were discovered.[11][12] In addition, 29 human remains were found that came from about 16 individuals. The best specimen is an individual, coded HLD 6, represented by 11 fossil pieces of the skull, teeth and jaw bones. A temporal bone was the first piece found in 2014, and the rest, in 2015.[8] Radiometric dating in 2019 established that the fossils are about 300,000 years old.[3][13]

Homo erectus

One of the first human remains found in 2006 are a lower second molar (HLD 1) and skull bones (HLD 2).[8][12] The two pieces of frontal bones perfectly fit to each other at one end, indicating that they were from one individual. They show small curvature with prominent temporal line and thick cranial wall like those of H. erectus. The structure and size of the tooth are also within the general features of H. erectus.[4]

In 2015, Liu Wu announced the discovery of one of the most complete and best preserved human skulls from Hualong Cave.[14] Popularised as "Dongzhi Man", the fossil was identified as H. erectus.[15][16]

HLD 11

A femoral bone, HLD 11, was discovered in 2015 and analysed in 2020, along with smaller pieces, HLD 15 and 16. It consists of a midshaft section that is 42 mm long with intact circumference. The structure indicates it as part of the right thigh. It most resembles that of Zhoukoudian Peking Man (H. erectus), but the exact identity is unclear as it also shares features of archaic humans of the Middle to early Late Pleistocene of Europe.[17]

HLD 6

HLD 6, represented by 11 fossil parts belong to a single individual, is the most complete human remains in Hualong Cave. Based on the teeth development, the individual was initially estimated in 2019 as between 13 and 15 years old, but revised in 2023 to 12–13 years old.[18][19]

In 2019, the skull and teeth were analysed that established the individual had a mixed feature of both archaic and modern humans.[3][10] It possesses several common features with Asian archaic humans including a low and wide skull cup and nostril, as well as reduced or absent third molars. However, in contrast to other archaic humans, HLD 6 also shows features of modern humans such as flat face, chin and modern teeth-like.[20] Report of the analysis of the facial skeleton in 2021 upheld that the flat face, poor prognathism, and nose bones are suggestive of a blend of archaic and modern human features.[21]

In 2020, a well preserved lower jawbone (mandible) was discovered among animal fossils that was found to be part of HLD 6.[7] The analysis, reported in 2023, revealed that the individual shows a clear mixture of different archaic and modern humans.[18] A thick bone along the jawline is a common feature with H. erectus. A notable archaic appearance is the lack of true chin.[7] A true chin a defining feature of modern humans and is absent in archaic species. HLD 6 jawline is more similar to those of Denisovans than to any other humans.[5] However, the thin wall of the jawbone is a shared featured with modern humans. Comparison with Peking Man, Neanderthals and Denisovans indicate that they cannot fit into any of the known human species,[1][18] and may be a hybrid species.[6] The study states "that the HLD 6 mandible exhibits a mosaic pattern with some features commonly found in Middle Pleistocene archaic hominins, Late Pleistocene anatomically modern humans, and recent modern humans."[18][22]

References

  1. ^ a b Lewis, Dyani (2023-09-18). "A new human species? Mystery surrounds 300,000-year-old fossil". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-02924-8. PMID 37723275. S2CID 262053793.
  2. ^ "This 300,000-year-old fossil could be a new branch in the human family tree". The Archaeologist. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  3. ^ a b c Wu, Xiu-Jie; Pei, Shu-Wen; Cai, Yan-Jun; Tong, Hao-Wen; Li, Qiang; Dong, Zhe; Sheng, Jin-Chao; Jin, Ze-Tian; et al. (2019-05-14). "Archaic human remains from Hualongdong, China, and Middle Pleistocene human continuity and variation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 116 (20): 9820–9824. Bibcode:2019PNAS..116.9820W. doi:10.1073/pnas.1902396116. ISSN 1091-6490. PMC 6525539. PMID 31036653.
  4. ^ a b c Xicheng, Gong; Zheng, Longting; Xing, Song; Wu, Xiujie; Tong, Haowen; Wu, Liu (2014-12-15). "Human Fossils Found from Hualong Cave, Dongzhi County, Anhui Province". Acta Anthropologica Sinica. 33 (4): 427. ISSN 1000-3193.
  5. ^ a b Khalil, Hafsa; Guy, Jack (2023-08-10). "300,000-year-old skull found in China unlike any early human seen before". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. ^ a b Yirka, Bob (2023-08-04). "Remains found in China may belong to third human lineage". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. ^ a b c Lewis, Dyani (2023-09-19). "Possible New Human Species Found through 300,000-Year-Old Jawbone Fossil". Scientific American. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  8. ^ a b c d Wu, Xiu-Jie; Pei, Shu-Wen; Cai, Yan-Jun; Tong, Hao-Wen; Li, Qiang; Dong, Zhe; Sheng, Jin-Chao; Jin, Ze-Tian; et al. (2019). "Supplementary information: Archaic human remains from Hualongdong, China, and Middle Pleistocene human continuity and variation" (PDF). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 116 (20): 9820–9824 [1–62]. Bibcode:2019PNAS..116.9820W. doi:10.1073/pnas.1902396116. PMC 6525539. PMID 31036653.
  9. ^ 裴, 树文; 蔡, 演军; 董, 哲; 同, 号文; 盛, 锦朝; 金, 泽田; 吴, 秀杰; 刘, 武 (2022). "安徽东至华龙洞遗址洞穴演化与古人类活动" [Evolution of cave system at Hualongdong, Anhui and its relation to human occupation]. 人类学学报 (in Chinese). 41 (4): 593–607. doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/aas.2022.0022. ISSN 1000-3193.
  10. ^ a b "Middle Pleistocene human skull reveals variation and continuity in early Asian humans". EurekAlert!. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  11. ^ a b Zhe, Dong; Shuwen, Pei; Jinchao, Sheng; Zetian, Jin; Xicheng, Gong; Xiujie, Wu; Wu, Liu (2017). "Preliminary report on the stone artifacts excavated from Hualongdong paleoanthropological site from 2014 to 2016, Dongzhi, Anhui Province". Quaternary Sciences (in Chinese). 37 (4): 778–788. doi:10.11928/j.issn.1001-7410.2017.04.10 (inactive 2024-03-09). ISSN 1001-7410.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of March 2024 (link)
  12. ^ a b 裴, 树文; 蔡, 演军; 董, 哲; 同, 号文; 盛, 锦朝; 金, 泽田; 吴, 秀杰; 刘, 武 (2022). "安徽东至华龙洞遗址洞穴演化与古人类活动" [Evolution of cave system at Hualongdong, Anhui and its relation to human occupation]. 人类学学报 (in Chinese). 41 (4): 593–607. doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/aas.2022.0022. ISSN 1000-3193.
  13. ^ "Chinese researchers discover 300,000-year-old ancient human fossils". China Daily. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  14. ^ Hays, Brooks (2015-11-25). "Chinese archaeologists unearth Homo erectus skull - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  15. ^ "Well-Preserved Homo Erectus Skull Discovered in China". Archaeology Magazine. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  16. ^ Laguipo, Angela (2015-11-25). "Fossilized Homo Erectus Skull Unearthed In China". Tech Times. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  17. ^ Xing, Song; Wu, Xiu-Jie; Liu, Wu; Pei, Shu-Wen; Cai, Yan-Jun; Tong, Hao-Wen; Trinkaus, Erik (2021). "Middle Pleistocene human femoral diaphyses from Hualongdong, Anhui Province, China". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 174 (2): 285–298. doi:10.1002/ajpa.24121. ISSN 1096-8644. PMID 32780474. S2CID 221102054.
  18. ^ a b c d Wu, Xiujie; Pei, Shuwen; Cai, Yanjun; Tong, Haowen; Zhang, Ziliang; Yan, Yi; Xing, Song; Martinón-Torres, María; Bermúdez de Castro, José María; Liu, Wu (2023). "Morphological and morphometric analyses of a late Middle Pleistocene hominin mandible from Hualongdong, China". Journal of Human Evolution. 182: 103411. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103411. PMID 37531709. S2CID 260407114.
  19. ^ Cassella, Carly (2023-08-07). "Ancient Skull Found in China Is Unlike Any Human Seen Before". ScienceAlert. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  20. ^ Tarlach, Gemma (2019-05-02). "Hualongdong Skull Is Latest Challenge To Dominant Human Evolution Model". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  21. ^ Wu, Xiujie; Pei, Shuwen; Cai, Yanjun; Tong, Haowen; Xing, Song; Jashashvili, Tea; Carlson, Kristian J.; Liu, Wu (2021). "Morphological description and evolutionary significance of 300 ka hominin facial bones from Hualongdong, China". Journal of Human Evolution. 161: 103052. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103052. ISSN 1095-8606. PMID 34601289. S2CID 238257555.
  22. ^ Killgrove, Kristina (2023-08-11). "Strange, 300,000-year-old jawbone unearthed in China may come from vanished human lineage". livescience. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
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