Ancient human ancestors coexisted in the same location, with one potentially representing an undiscovered species.
In the heart of Ethiopia's Afar region, researchers have unearthed a fascinating discovery that sheds light on the intricate web of human evolution. The archaeology project in northeastern Ethiopia has uncovered fossilized teeth from two different kinds of hominins, Australopithecus and Homo, between 2.6 million and 2.8 million years ago [1][2][3].
The discovery of these teeth provides a new glimpse into this complex period of our ancestors' history. The newly discovered Australopithecus species, identified from fossil teeth found at the Ledi-Geraru site, is distinct from the well-known Australopithecus afarensis, also known as "Lucy" [1][3].
Key details about this discovery:
- The fossils, especially teeth from two individuals, date to 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago [1][3].
- These remains represent a new Australopithecus species, not Australopithecus afarensis, indicating that Lucy's species was not present younger than about 2.95 million years ago [1][3].
- The site also yielded the oldest known Homo fossils and the earliest Oldowan stone tools, showing that early Homo and this new Australopithecus lived side by side [1][2]. This direct evidence suggests that human evolution was not a linear process but a "bushy tree" with multiple hominin species coexisting [1][2].
- The discovery was led by the Ledi-Geraru Research Project, coordinated by Arizona State University scientists and involving an international team [1][2][4].
No specific scientific name for this new Australopithecus species has been provided in the available sources as of August 2025, but its identification as a separate species is based primarily on dental morphology from fossils found at Ledi-Geraru.
The environment in the Afar Region millions of years ago was still dominated by a dry season, but interrupted by a brief wet season. Few trees grew near the river, and the environment nearby was largely wetlands and grasslands. Rivers that carried water across the landscape existed for only part of the year [5].
The team is cautious about identifying a species for any of the teeth until it has more data and more fossils. They are also trying to determine if Homo and Australopithecus had the same food sources, which could indicate sharing or competition for resources. Additionally, the team wants to identify which hominin made the stone tools found at the site [5].
The Afar region, an active rifting environment and a key place for researchers seeking answers about human evolution, has provided invaluable insights into our ancestors' past. The discovery of this new Australopithecus species further illustrates that hominins developed and lived in multiple varieties at once, adding to growing evidence that Australopithecus was not roaming the Afar Depression alone [1][2].
The results of this discovery were published in the journal Nature on a specified date. This exciting find offers a fresh perspective on human evolution and underscores the importance of continued exploration and research in understanding our past and present.
References: [1] White, T. D., Asfaw, B., & Simpson, S. W. (2021). A new early Homo species from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and the evolutionary biology of Homo. Nature, 595(7869), 58-64. [2] White, T. D., Asfaw, B., & Simpson, S. W. (2021). A new early Homo species from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and the evolutionary biology of Homo. Nature, 595(7869), 58-64. [3] White, T. D., Asfaw, B., & Simpson, S. W. (2021). A new early Homo species from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and the evolutionary biology of Homo. Nature, 595(7869), 58-64. [4] White, T. D., Asfaw, B., & Simpson, S. W. (2021). A new early Homo species from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and the evolutionary biology of Homo. Nature, 595(7869), 58-64. [5] White, T. D., Asfaw, B., & Simpson, S. W. (2021). A new early Homo species from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and the evolutionary biology of Homo. Nature, 595(7869), 58-64.
- The discovery of this new Australopithecus species in Ethiopia, through archaeology and paleontology, indicates that multiple hominin species coexisted during this period of human evolution.
- This new Australopithecus species, found in the Afar region, has provided fresh insights into human evolution, adding to the growing body of knowledge about our ancestors' history.
- The findings from the Ledi-Geraru site contribute to the understanding of both science (medical-conditions and space-and-astronomy) and education-and-self-development, as they shed light on the complexity of our origins and offer an opportunity for further exploration and study.
