Science
Related: About this forumHuman fossils hint at new species
The bones, which represent at least five individuals, have been dated to between 11,500 and 14,500 years ago.
But scientists are calling them simply the Red Deer Cave people, after one of the sites where they were unearthed.
The team has told the PLoS One journal that far more detailed analysis of the fossils is required before they can be ascribed to a new human lineage.
"We're trying to be very careful at this stage about definitely classifying them," said study co-leader Darren Curnoe from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17370170
denbot
(9,899 posts)There was a human genetic bottle neck about 70k years ago. I would guess that these individuals are more likely an isolated population remanent.
Warpy
(111,255 posts)even with the Dryas stadials and other environmental pressures.
They, like Neanderthals, were likely more susceptible to climate change and were likely interbred out of existence.
denbot
(9,899 posts)IMHO The more plausible answer would be instead of an early Homo off shoot surviving all that time without being out displaced or interbred, it is more likely a surviving population that was isolated, and in an "island" biome could exhibit hybrid traits that suggest a speciation event.
Warpy
(111,255 posts)of them a lot earlier than that 50,000 years BCE for Homo Sap.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)If they were, they might be Homo Santorium
Stephanie Kopf
(13 posts)Excited to hear about what happens next!
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)The Desinovan DNA came from an isolated finger bone, so we don't know what they looked like, maybe this is one of them?