Two new early human ancestors identified

It's been announced that two new early homonids have been identified from fossils found in east africa.

ScienceDaily (Aug. 8, 2012) —Exciting new fossils discovered east of Lake Turkana confirm that there were two additional species of our genus --Homo -- living alongside our direct human ancestral species, Homo erectus,almost two million years ago. The finds, announced in the scientific journal Nature on August 9 th ,include a face, a remarkably complete lower jaw, and part of a second lower jaw. They were

And

Four decades ago, the KFRP discovered the enigmatic fossil known as KNM-ER 1470 (or "1470" for short). This skull, readily distinguished by its large brain size and long flat face, ignited a longstanding debate about just how many different species of early Homo lived alongside Homo erectus during the Pleistocene epoch. 1470's unusual morphology was attributed by some scientists to sexual differences and natural degrees of variation within a single species, whereas others interpreted the fossil as evidence of a separate species.

Also

Found within a radius of just over 10 km from 1470's location, the three new fossils are dated between 1.78 million and 1.95 million years old. The face KNM-ER 62000, discovered by field crew member Elgite Lokorimudang in 2008, is very similar to that of 1470, showing that the latter is not a single "odd one out" individual. Moreover, the face's well-preserved upper jaw has almost all of its cheek teeth still in place, which for the first time makes it possible to infer the type of lower jaw that would have fitted 1470. A particularly good match can be found in the other two new fossils, the lower jaw KNM-ER 60000, found by Cyprian Nyete in 2009, and part of another lower jaw, KNM-ER 62003, found by Robert Moru in 2007. KNM-ER 60000 stands out as the most complete lower jaw of an early member of the genus Homo yet discovered.

The source
www.sciencedaily.com...

Fascinating stuff indeed, maybe one of these new species is the contributor to the unidentified DNA found in certain African populations.

What about our own "junk" DNA?
Could we be carrying some of this other hominid strains DNA???
Justaskin.......s&f

reply to post by punkinworks10


is there a website that shows all of the fosils and what they might have looked like back then?

Alright more cousins! Yeah 1470 was always a bit of a mystery, now a bit more light has been shed.

As we have seen over the past 150 years, the step by step evolution along a single branch has been replaced by a 'bush', lots of branches with just one leading to us - or perhaps the branches combined at certain points?

reply to post by stirling


We do have some leftover DNA, caucasians have two separate contributions of neanderthal DNA, north east asians have some neanderthal and denisovan, while some southeast asians have only denisovan contribution.
Africans have none of these other contributors, but certain African populations have DNA from an unknown homonin source. Maybe this source has its origins in one of these other homonids.


,

Originally posted by tluna1
reply to post by punkinworks10

 

is there a website that shows all of the fosils and what they might have looked like back then?

Actually there is one, it has reconstructions for fossils where enough has been found for facial reconstruction,
I'll try to find the link,

Originally posted by punkinworks10
reply to post by stirling

 

We do have some leftover DNA, caucasians have two separate contributions of neanderthal DNA, north east asians have some neanderthal and denisovan, while some southeast asians have only denisovan contribution.
Africans have none of these other contributors, but certain African populations have DNA from an unknown homonin source. Maybe this source has its origins in one of these other homonids.,

Yes this might explain the slightly different body structure of the people popularly called the bushmen

Originally posted by punkinworks10

Originally posted by tluna1
reply to post by punkinworks10

 

is there a website that shows all of the fosils and what they might have looked like back then?

Actually there is one, it has reconstructions for fossils where enough has been found for facial reconstruction,
I'll try to find the link,

Cousin Sami I presume?

Originally posted by tluna1
reply to post by punkinworks10

 

is there a website that shows all of the fosils and what they might have plooked like back then?

This isn't the one I was thinking of , but it gives a good list of fossils and a brief overview of each. And there are some very good discussions on this site.
www.talkorigins.org...