The fossils were found between 2007 and 2009 by the Koobi Fora Research Project (KFRP), under the leadership of Meave and Louise Leakey. Professor of anthropology at New York University, Susan Antón, a member of the research team, taking part in an effort to compare these fossils with the previous findings.
"The new fossils provide a major test at the initial hypothesis of how the separation of Homo have been recorded before, but, more importantly, these fossils show an idea of how these species may have shared environments - those species that are not separately into one large and one species of small species on the contrary, these fossils show remarkable variation in size within each species, but the anatomy of different faces. "
Four decades ago, KFRP mysterious fossils known as KNM-ER 1470 (or simply "1470"). The skull, which is distinguished by the large size of his brain and a long flat reasonable, sparked debate about how many other species that coexist with Homo erectus during the Pleistocene epoch, the range is from 2.6 million years to 11,700 years ago. 1470 unique morphology has been characterized by some scientists to sexual differences and the level of natural variation within a single species, while other scientists interpret fossils as evidence of a separate species.
The dilemma is to survive long because of two reasons. First, the comparison with the other fossils are very limited due to the absence or mandibular teeth left over from 1470. Secondly, the absence of other fossil bones that resembles the shape of a long face and a flat 1470; does this leave any doubt how the typical characteristics. And finally, fossils recently discovered tackle both issues.
"For 40 years we've been searching long and exhausting in the vast expanse of sediment around Lake Turkana to find fossils that can confirm the unique features of the face 1470 and can show us what way the teeth and lower jaw," said Meave Leakey, a co-leader KFRP and a National Geographic Explorer-resident. "We finally have some answers."
"When combined, these three new fossil provides a much clearer picture of how the way in 1470," added Fred Spoor, who led the scientific analysis. 'As a result, now it is clear that two species of early Homo coexisted with Homo erectus. The new fossils will be very helpful in order to unravel how the human evolutionary branch first appeared and developed in the nearly two million years ago. "
Found within a radius of more than 10 kilometers from the discovery of 1470, three new fossil is between 1.78 million and 1.95 million years old. The face of KNM-ER 62000, which was discovered in 2008, is very similar to the face of 1470. Moreover, the upper jaw on his face was left virtually all cheek teeth, which for the first time be possible to infer the type mandible ever owned 1470. Suitability in particular can be found on two other new fossils, mandible KNM-ER 60000, which was found in 2009, and other parts of the mandible, KNM-ER 62003, which was found in 2007. KNP-ER 60 000 remains the most complete garlic jaws ever found of the early members of the genus Homo.Copy From Fakta Ilmiah
