Study shows evidence of human existence in Eurasia much earlier than previously thought

A new discovery at the Grăunceanu archaeological site in Romania is rewriting the history of human presence in Eurasia. Researchers have discovered cut marks on animal bones, indicating that human ancestors were using stone tools to dismember animals at least 1.95 million years ago. This discovery extends the earliest known date for hominid presence in Europe by 200,000 years.

The fossils were initially excavated in the 1960s and belong to a variety of prehistoric animals, including wildebeest, zebras, and even saber-toothed cats. However, the cut marks, which are evident when the bones are viewed under bright light, provide the first evidence that ancient humans handled animals in this region, reports Science Alert.

The research team, which included paleontologists and anthropologists , spent years studying more than 4,500 fossils from the site. Their analysis showed that not only were the marks caused by nature or predators, but they were also confirmed as cuts made by human tools. Using a novel 3D analysis method, the researchers compared the marks with those on bones that had been processed by various factors, such as predators or friction with sediment.

The marks were identified primarily on the bones of hoofed animals, such as deer, suggesting that hominids may have hunted and processed these animals in the area. Evidence suggests that this type of behavior was already characteristic of human ancestors in Europe much earlier than previously thought.

The excavation also revealed a dense concentration of bones at the site, suggesting that it may have been a place where animals were systematically processed, reinforcing the hypothesis that hominids used this space for specific purposes.

Other finds had provided evidence of the early presence of hominids outside Africa, but never with such an early dating.

This finding complements other discoveries in Eurasia and North Africa , which have also provided evidence of the early presence of hominins outside of Africa, but never with such an early date. With this discovery, researchers have been able to precisely date the arrival of human ancestors in Europe, which may alter our understanding of humanity's early expansion.

This breakthrough not only reinforces the idea that hominids were able to adapt to a variety of environments, but also underscores the importance of sites like Grăunceanu for better understanding the early behaviors of ancient humans in Eurasia.