The latest geoscientific and anthropological research sheds new light on the history of early hominin expansion. Analysis of fossils found in China's Yunxian proves that Homo erectus inhabited East Asia as early as 1.7 million years ago. This discovery pushes back the date of our ancestors' arrival on this continent by over half a million years, redefining previous models of human migration out of Africa.
Shift in Migration Date
New dating of remains from Yunxian proves the presence of Homo erectus in Asia as early as 1.7 million years ago, significantly earlier than thought.
Faster Expansion of Hominins
The discovery suggests that the spread of early humans from Africa to East Asia occurred dynamically and in a relatively short time.
Precision of New Methods
The application of advanced geochronological techniques allowed scientists to resolve a decades-long dispute over the age of Chinese fossils.
The latest research published in a prestigious scientific journal revises current knowledge about the migration of Homo erectus. Using modern dating methods on three skulls found in Yunxian, central China, their age has been determined to be approximately 1.7 million years. This result is 600,000 years earlier than previous scientific findings suggested. This discovery indicates that the spread of early hominins across the Asian continent occurred much more rapidly than paleoanthropologists had assumed. Innovative research techniques allowed for precise determination of the age of the finds, putting an end to long-standing controversies regarding the chronology of settlement in East Asia. Homo erectus, a direct ancestor of modern humans, demonstrated remarkable adaptability and mobility, covering vast distances from the African cradle of humanity in a relatively short geological time. This research also provides new insights into the technological and biological readiness of our ancestors to colonize diverse ecosystems. Homo erectus, or upright man, appeared about 2 million years ago. This was the first human species to leave Africa and master the use of fire and the production of advanced Acheulean-type stone tools. Analysis of fossils from Yunxian confirms that Asia was a key evolutionary testing ground for early humans. Scientists emphasize that the new dating necessitates a revision of migration maps, which previously indicated a much later presence of the species in this region. These results are fundamental for understanding how hominids coped with climate changes and new environmental challenges during their eastward journey. 1.7 million years — age of the oldest Homo erectus remains in ChinaChange in Dating of Homo erectus Presence in Asia: : → ; : →