The Sima del Elefante site, in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain), has once again been the scene of an extraordinary discovery. A team of researchers has identified a human facial fragment dated between 1.1 and 1.4 million years old, making it the oldest face ever discovered in Western Europe. This discovery, led by IPHES-CERCA in collaboration with several institutions of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), represents a key milestone in the study of human evolution on the continent.
The facial fragment, cataloged as ATE7-1, was found during the 2022 excavation campaign in level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante site. The analyses conducted have led researchers to attribute this fossil to the species Homo affinis erectus, a more primitive form than Homo antecessor, whose remains have previously been identified in the Gran Dolina of Atapuerca.
This finding has been the subject of an exhaustive study published in the journal Nature. The research was led by Dr. Rosa Huguet, from IPHES-CERCA and the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), along with Dr. Xosé Pedro Rodríguez-Álvarez, also from URV. Scientists from the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) and other national and international institutions participated in the study, including the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN) and the Institute of Archaeology of Mérida (IAM), both part of CSIC.
The ATE7-1 fossil was recovered in several fragments that required a laborious reconstruction process using advanced imaging and 3D modeling techniques. After two years of research, scientists have determined that the face exhibits more primitive characteristics compared to Homo antecessor. In particular, the nasal structure of ATE7-1 is flatter and less developed, making it resemble Homo erectus.
According to Dr. María Martinón-Torres, director of CENIEH and co-author of the study, Homo antecessor shares certain facial traits with Homo sapiens, such as a prominent nasal structure. However, the features of ATE7-1 are more archaic and bring us closer to more primitive forms of the Homo genus. Since the evidence does not yet allow for a definitive taxonomic classification, experts have provisionally assigned it to Homo affinis erectus.
The dating of the fossil suggests that this individual belonged to a population that inhabited Europe in a migratory wave prior to that of Homo antecessor, whose oldest remains date back approximately 860,000 years. This discovery reinforces the hypothesis that the European continent hosted various human species simultaneously during the Early Pleistocene.
The research at Sima del Elefante has also led to the identification of stone tools and faunal remains with cut marks, indicating the use of lithic technology for food processing. The quartz and flint tools found suggest that these hominins already had effective subsistence strategies and were well acquainted with the resources in their environment, says Xosé Pedro Rodríguez-Álvarez, a specialist in lithic industry.
The discovery of ATE7-1 further highlights the importance of the Atapuerca site as a global reference for the study of human evolution. According to Dr. Marina Mosquera, director of IPHES-CERCA, Atapuerca continues to provide us with fundamental insights into our origins. Each new discovery reaffirms the significance of this site in understanding the peopling of Europe.
Dr. José María Bermúdez de Castro, co-director of the Atapuerca Project, concludes: This discovery places us at a new stage in the study of human settlement in Europe. As we advance in research, new questions arise that will help us better understand the diversity and evolution of our ancestors.
The team of researchers hopes that the study of these remains will help clarify the complex migratory history of the Homo genus and the diversity of its populations in the European continent over a million years ago.
SOURCES
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)
Huguet, R., Rodríguez-Álvarez, X.P., Martinón-Torres, M. et al. The earliest human face of Western Europe. Nature (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08681-0
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Extreme droughts triggered the great barbarian invasion of Roman Britain in the mid-4th century AD
A study led by the University of Cambridge has revealed that a series of extreme droughts between the years 364 and 366 AD may have been a determining factor in…
There is life on planet K2-18b: Strongest signs yet of biological activity detected outside the Solar System
A team of astronomers led by the University of Cambridge has detected the chemical fingerprints of possible signs of life on a planet outside the solar system. Using data from…
Archaeologists Discover a Roman Castellum on the Banks of the Danube, the First Found in Austria
For the first time, an archaeological investigation has conclusively documented the existence of a brückenkopfkastell—a Roman auxiliary outpost castle erected at a strategic river crossing point—on Austrian soil. The discovery,…
Prehistoric Sun Protection: How Homo sapiens Survived the Planet’s Magnetic Reversal 41,000 Years Ago
A recent study led by the University of Michigan suggests that Homo sapiens who inhabited Europe around 41,000 years ago may have survived a period of intense solar radiation thanks…
Magenta, the Color Born from a Battle
The history of colors is intertwined with the evolution of humanity, reflecting scientific advances, cultural conquests, and historical moments that have left an indelible mark on our perception of the…
This Is How Humans Managed to Make Fire During the Ice Age Glaciation
For millennia, fire has been considered an essential element for human survival: it not only provided warmth in hostile climates but also enabled food cooking, tool-making, and even served as…
A Celtic Iron Age Necropolis Found in France Without Human Remains but With Complete Swords in Their Sheaths and Other Treasures
At the top of the archaeological site of Creuzier-le-Neuf, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a team from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) has uncovered an extensive necropolis dated…
Ancient Inscriptions, Heraldic Shields, and Drawings Deciphered in the Cenacle of Jerusalem Built by the Crusaders
An international team of researchers has succeeded in identifying and analyzing dozens of medieval graffiti in one of Christianity’s holiest sites, the Cenacle of Jerusalem, the place where tradition says…
The Military Secrets of Urartu: How a Forgotten Kingdom Challenged the Mighty Assyrian Empire
In the mountains of eastern Anatolia, during the Iron Age between the 9th and 6th centuries BC, a kingdom arose that challenged one of the greatest powers of its time:…
Maximator, the intelligence alliance formed by five European countries that ended up being spied on by their own machines
Military alliances are interstate political agreements signed to achieve common defense. They have existed since Antiquity (remember, for instance, the leagues formed by the Greek city-states), and although their most…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
