New Delhi: Friday, September 26, 2025. A new study on a million-year-old skull is making big news across the world. Scientists say this discovery could completely change what we know about how humans evolved. It may push back the origin of modern humans by a very long time.
The skull, known as “Yunxian 2,” was found in China’s Hubei Province way back in 1990. For many years, it was thought to belong to Homo erectus. This is an ancient human species. However, the skull was badly damaged and very crushed, making it hard to study properly.
Now, researchers from China and the UK have used new and advanced technology. They used CT scans and digital reconstruction to rebuild the skull virtually. The results of this reconstruction are very surprising.
The skulls were discovered by a Chinese team in Hubei Province in central China, who compared them with other human species
The scientists now believe the skull may belong to a species called Homo longi. This species is also known as “Dragon Man.” Importantly, Homo longi is considered a close relative to both Neanderthals and our own species, Homo sapiens (modern humans).
The features of the reconstructed skull are confusing. It has a thick brow ridge, like Homo erectus. But it also has a larger brain capacity and a flatter face. These traits are usually seen in humans who lived much later, like our own ancestors.
This finding suggests that the line that led to modern humans may have split from other ancient human groups much earlier. The split might have happened around 1.3 million years ago, instead of the previously thought 500,000 to 700,000 years ago. This is almost double the time.
One of the lead researchers, Professor Chris Stringer, said this means our ancestors had already separated into different groups one million years ago. This shows human evolution was more complex and happened earlier than believed.
The discovery also makes us question the “Out of Africa” theory. This theory says that modern humans first emerged only in Africa. This ancient skull found in Asia suggests that important parts of human evolution happened in Asia, too. It hints that the common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and “Dragon Man” might have lived outside Africa.
The white skulls are the original, distorted fossils, and the grey ones are replicas that have been computer-corrected
Some scientists not involved in the study are still cautious. They say the dating estimates are very difficult to confirm. They want more fossils and genetic proof to fully accept this new timeline.
The Yunxian 2 skull, despite being found decades ago, is now helping solve a big mystery in human evolution. Experts call this time period, between one million and 300,000 years ago, the “Muddle in the Middle.” The new analysis of the skull could help clear up this confusion. It shows how technology can help us re-examine old finds and change our view of history. More research and discoveries are needed to confirm if Asia was a major hub for early human origins.
[SRC] https://boxofficewala.in/million-year-old-skull-found-this-discovery-may-rewrite-human-history/
