Homo antecessor skull (800,000 years)

The Homo antecessor skull was discovered in 1995 by J. M. Bermudez de Castro at the Gran Dolina site, in Atapuerca, Spain, and described in Science in 1997.  Before the discovery of Homo antecessor, there was no substantial evidence of hominids in Europe before about 0.5 MYA.  Fossils and stone tools at least 780,000 years old were found at the Gran Dolina site in Atapuerca.  Homo antecessor (Latin: human forbear) possessed characteristics of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.  With the bulky brow and big jaw of the now extinct Neanderthal and the cheekbones and nose of Homo sapiens, the researchers believe they have discovered a missing link that may cause a major reconsideration of human ancestry.  Notably, its brow ridges are double-arched (as is the case with Neanderthals), and its molars triple-rooted, a trait most closely recognized in Homo ergaster.  As expected of a Homo specimen from this time period, it has a brain size of over 1,000cm³.  The more modern midfacial characteristics of Homo antecessor have previously only been seen in hominids more than half a million years younger.  In other respects it more closely resembles Homo ergaster, an early form of Homo erectus from Africa.

Stand available - see product code SBH031.

Model size: 6.5(L) x 14(W) x 13(H) cm

The Bone Clones® Hominid Series

Our aim is to provide the best possible facsimile models of the most important hominid finds for the general public, educators and students, using the best reference material available.  Each hominid has been carefully researched and re-created based on some or all of the following: casts of original fossils, the latest literature (descriptions and/or published measurements), input from the scientific community and full colour, life-size photographs.  Every effort has been made to accurately re-create anatomical details of colour, size, shape, reconstructed areas, and bone/fossil texture.  The hominids offered in this series are high quality, artistic recreations that can be advantageously used by educators as important visual aids in the classroom and appreciated by the general public.  They are not intended for advanced graduate work nor to be measured for research purposes.

(Information courtesy Bone Clones, Inc)