A recent scientific discovery published in the journal Nature Communications has unveiled compelling evidence of the presence of hominins in Europe at least 1.95 million years ago. This finding, centered on the Grăunceanu archaeological site in the Olteț River valley, Romania, challenges established chronologies and provides new perspectives on the dispersion of early humans out of Africa.

Grăunceanu, a site dating back to the Early Pleistocene, has become one of the best-dated locations in Europe for hominin activity. The evidence presented by the multidisciplinary team includes animal bones bearing cut marks attributed to lithic tools used by hominins. These marks are clear indicators of anthropogenic activity, as they display patterns consistent with defleshing and meat processing.

Through high-precision uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating, the researchers determined an average age of 1.95 million years for the remains found. This methodology, complemented by biostratigraphic analyses and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, establishes Grăunceanu as a key temporal reference for studying the earliest human settlements in Eurasia.

Hominins evidence Romania
Map of fossil localities showing evidence of hominins (either hominin fossils, lithics, or cut-marked bones) in northern Africa and Eurasia prior to 1.0 Ma. Credit: S.C. Curran et al.

The OlteÈ› River valley, located south of the Carpathians, is characterized by a rich sequence of fluvio-lacustrine sediments known as the Tetoiu Formation. This environment not only preserved a remarkable faunal diversity from the Late Villafranchian period (approximately 2.2 to 1.9 million years ago) but also evidence of hominin activity. Among the identified faunal remains are species of mammoths, equids, ruminants, rhinoceroses, and carnivores, as well as birds like ostriches and primates such as Paradolichopithecus, a large terrestrial monkey. This biodiversity reflects a wooded steppe ecosystem with seasonal variations.

A taphonomic study conducted on the 4,983 specimens from the site shows excellent preservation, with over 85% of the bones classified in the lowest weathering stage. Of this total, 1,189 bones display linear marks, of which 20 were classified as cut marks with high or probable confidence. These marks, found on elements such as tibias and mandibles of artiodactyls, suggest butchering practices consistent with patterns observed at contemporary African sites.

To corroborate the anthropogenic nature of these marks, a combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses was employed. This integrated approach distinguishes cut marks from those caused by predators or natural agents such as trampling. The consistency of the results with previous studies reinforces the hypothesis that hominins used tools to process food in this environment.

An innovative aspect of the study is the isotopic analysis of horse teeth found at Grăunceanu. Ratios of oxygen and carbon isotopes infer relatively temperate climatic conditions and marked seasonal precipitation, with wet winters and dry summers. This moderate climate may have facilitated the presence of hominins in a region situated at approximately 45 degrees north latitude, a latitude that would have required significant adaptations to colder temperatures and variable ecosystems.

Hominins evidence Romania
Selected images of high-confidence cut-marked specimens from the Olteţ River Valley assemblage. Credit: S.C. Curran et al.

Until now, the earliest confirmed presence of hominins outside Africa was in Dmanisi, Georgia, dated to approximately 1.8 million years ago. However, the Grăunceanu discovery, along with similar evidence from sites like Longgupo in China, extends the known timeline and suggests that hominins may have reached Eurasia much earlier than previously thought.

This finding also raises questions about dispersal routes. While evidence points to the Sinai corridor as the primary route out of Africa, the geographic extent of the sites suggests sporadic colonization, possibly dependent on interglacial periods with favorable climates.

Although the Grăunceanu study provides solid evidence of hominin activity, it lacks direct fossil remains of hominins or in situ lithic tools. This poses a challenge to identifying the specific species involved in this early migration. Nevertheless, researchers emphasize parallels with African sites where cut marks have also been found without associated human remains.

The scientific team calls for further exploration of underrepresented regions in paleontological research, particularly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Greater application of advanced dating technologies and isotopic analyses could shed new light on the adaptation strategies and migratory routes of early humans.


SOURCES

Curran, S.C., Drăgușin, V., Pobiner, B. et al. Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago. Nat Commun 16, 836 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56154-9


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