Oldest Human Face Revealed: Ancient Spaniard Lived 1.4 Million Years Ago

• READ MORE: Scientists Unveil Image of 'Entirely Unknown' Human Ancestor

Researchers have uncovered the earliest known human face from Western Europe, which could alter our understanding of human evolution.

The ancient human referred to as 'Pink' resided in Spain in the Iberian Peninsula from about 1.1 to 1.4 million years ago.

This indicates that Pink significantly precedes the appearance of modern humans, Homo sapiens, who arrived on the continent approximately 45,000 years ago.

The fossilized remains differ significantly from other early hominin specimens discovered in the region, suggesting that Pink might represent an entirely new species of human.

The pieces of this ancient human face were found in 2022 within a cave named Sima del Elefante. Where some of Europe's oldest human remains have been discovered.

Nevertheless, Pink seems to have a distinct architecture compared to Homo antecessor, a different hominin species that inhabited the region as far back as 860,000 years ago.

Rather than resembling us, he looks more like Homo erectus, an even older human species that appeared in Africa about two million years ago and was the first to walk upright similar to contemporary humans.

The researchers believe that Pink's species could have been among the very first humans to arrive in Europe before being wiped out by a sudden shift in the climate.

Composed of several broken fragments and parts of two teeth, the remains found at Sima del Elefante are believed to be the oldest example of human facial bones found in Western Europe.

The scientists referred to the person as 'Pink,' inspired by Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side of the Moon." In Spanish, this album is known as 'La cara oculta de la luna', with 'cara oculta' translating to 'hidden face.'

When Pink’s remains were uncovered, researchers originally believed that they might be attributed to another one of the early human species that had been unearthed in the region.

Inside the cave, scientists had earlier discovered remnants of Homo antecessor from approximately 860,000 years ago.

By examining the numerous other animal fossils discovered in the same stratum of the cave along with evidence of periodic changes in Earth’s magnetic field imprinted in the soil, scientists determined that Pink's remains date back to between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago.

Furthermore, upon meticulously piecing together the fragments of Pink’s remains, it was evident that her facial structure did not match any known ancient human species from the region.

Dr María Martinón, who leads the National Centre for Research on Human Evolution, comments: "While Homo antecessor has a more contemporary appearance in terms of facial characteristics and possesses a pronounced nasal bone area similar to Homo sapiens, Pink displays traits that are more archaic, akin to those found in Homo erectus, notably through its flattened and less developed nose."

Homo erectus was the initial human species to adopt an upright stance and walk similarly to contemporary humans, and it was also the first to employ stone implements as cutting tools.

Once this species appeared in Africa roughly two million years ago, it spread out into Asia and eventually reached Eastern Europe.

At a location in present-day Georgia, paleontologists have uncovered five skulls belonging to Homo erectus. tracing back 1.8 million years .

Nevertheless, the fossil record from Western Europe remains notably sparse until 800,000 years ago.

Scientists have discovered just one tooth and some stone tools from approximately 1.4 million years ago in Spain, alongside a lower jawbone from Sima del Elefante dating back to approximately 1.1 million years ago.

Close to where Pink's remains were found, scientists also uncovered stone tools crafted from quartz and flint, along with animal bones that showed distinct signs of cutting.

This suggests that Pink and their kin had established a basic tool-making industry and were skilled at butchering animals for meat, similar to what was done by Homo erectus.

Dr. Xosé Pedro Rodríguez, one of the study’s authors from the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), comments: "These findings indicate a successful approach for obtaining food and underscore the capability of these early humans to utilize the natural assets present in their surroundings."

If Pink genuinely belongs to the species Homo erectus, this discovery would indicate that this ancient human ancestor was much more widespread and existed much earlier than researchers previously believed.

Who were Homo antecessor?

Homo antecessor represents one of the first human types identified in Europe, with evidence tracing back up to a million years.

Thought to have had a weight of approximately 14 stone, Homo antecessor was believed to be between 5.5 and 6 feet tall.

Their brain volumes ranged from approximately 1,000 to 1,150 cubic centimeters, making them smaller compared to the typical 1,350 cubic centimeter brains found in present-day humans.

It is thought that this species was predominantly right-handed, setting it apart from other apes, and might have employed a symbolic form of communication. This conclusion was drawn by archaeologists after they discovered remnants in Burgos, Spain back in 1994.

Nevertheless, the researchers remain unconvinced that Pink merely belongs to this particular species of human ancestors.

Even though their skulls are alike, Pink's face has a more slender build compared to instances of Homo erectus discovered throughout Asia and Africa.

However, based solely on the few bone pieces and two worn teeth they have found, the scientists cannot yet confirm that Pink represents a completely new species.

Rather than doing so, they chose to label Pink as 'Homo affinis erectus,' employing the Latin word 'affinis' to indicate its close relationship with recognized species.

Dr. Martinón states: "There isn't enough evidence yet to make a conclusive categorization, so we opted for the designation Homo affinis erectus."

She notes that this was undertaken to "recognize Pink’s connections to Homo erectus while still allowing for the chance that the remains could be from a different species."

The scholars contend that Pink's species was among the initial group of humans to migrate into Western Europe.

However, that initial migration seemed to have ended abruptly as the climate on the Iberian Peninsula rapidly shifted.

When Pink resided in Spain, the Sierra de Atapuerca area was characterized by a blend of forested zones, marshy meadows, and intermittent bodies of water — creating a bountiful habitat for early human inhabitants.

However, earlier research indicates that there might have been a abrupt change in climate approximately 1.1 million years ago. which had the potential to eradicate humanity.

This might account for the significant gap observed in the fossil record between specimens attributed to Pink and those of the subsequent Homo antecessor species.

Dr. Eudald Carbonell, a paleontologist from URV and co-director of the project, states, "The evidence pointing to distinct hominin populations in Western Europe throughout the Early Pleistocene indicates that this area played a crucial role in the evolutionary journey of the genus Homo."

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