In a cave in northern Spain, researchers have discovered the oldest human fossil ever found in Western Europe, nicknamed “Pink.” The 1.1 million to 1.4 million-year-old fossil fragments belong to a previously unknown human population and do not match any known species in the region. The researchers tentatively suggest that Pink is related to Homo erectus. This finding helps establish a timeline for when human ancestors first settled in Western Europe, bridging the gap between older fossils in Georgia and a species called Homo antecessor. The discovery may provide insight into the evolution and migration of early humans in Europe.
Excavations at the Sierra de Atapuerca site where Pink was found have revealed evidence of stone tools and butchered animal bones, suggesting early ancestors lived there. The study speculates that the species Pink belonged to may have overlapped with Homo antecessor and could have been wiped out by a climactic shift around 1.1 million years ago.
The region’s rich fossil record is attributed to its geography, being a natural corridor between different mountain systems with ample resources. The discovery of Pink, as well as other compelling fossils found in the cave, has sparked further excavation efforts in search of more surprises. The finding of Pink opens up new possibilities for understanding early human populations and their movements in Europe.
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