Remains of probable common ancestor of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals found

In the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco, parts of fossilized remains were presented, which scientists believe are fragments of the skeleton of the most probable common ancestor of Homo sapiens (modern humans) and Neanderthals. The international archaeological expedition discovered the ancient remains in the "Thomas-1" quarry near the city of Casablanca on the Atlantic coast of the kingdom, TASS reports.

The find consists of part of the lower jaw of an adult human, a complete lower jaw of a child, part of a femur, several teeth, and vertebrae. According to research data, they date from 700,000 to 773,000 years ago.

As one of the project leaders, Professor of the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage of Morocco Abderrahim Mohib told TASS, complex scientific expertise and examination using electromagnetic radiation showed that these remains combine elementary morphological characteristics inherent in Homo erectus (upright human, considered the direct ancestor of modern humans), with more developed elements similar in morphology to the features of Homo sapiens. According to him, the find is "a crucial link in understanding the evolution of modern humans and the 'sister line' that led to the development of other human forms found in Europe."

Mohib, speaking about the significance of the discovery, stated that the remains correspond to the period of divergence between the main lines of human development: the African line, which led to the emergence of Homo sapiens, and the Eurasian line, which gave rise to, for example, the Neanderthal branch. In his opinion, this is precisely why the found fossils could be "the remains of humans who are the most likely candidates for the role of the common ancestor of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals."

Prior to this, an international group of anthropologists questioned the established notion that the first Homo sapiens left Africa through the eastern coast of the continent.