7.2-million-year-old Graecopithecus challenges Africa's human origin monopoly. Graecopithecus jaw fragment found outside Athens (Attica), second fragment (upper premolar) found in Bulgaria Dated to approximately 7.2 million years ago using CT scans to examine internal tooth structure Tooth roots were fused, a trait seen in early hominins but not modern great apes
Researchers found a Graecopithecus jaw fragment near Athens and a second tooth in Bulgaria, both dated to roughly 7.2 million years ago. CT scans revealed fused tooth roots—a trait seen in early hominins, not modern great apes. Combined with controversial 6-million-year-old footprints from Crete, this raises the possibility that hominin evolution may not have been exclusively African. Most paleoanthropologists remain skeptical of these interpretations, but the debate is far from settled.
Key Facts
- Graecopithecus jaw fragment found outside Athens (Attica), second fragment (upper premolar) found in Bulgaria
- Dated to approximately 7.2 million years ago using CT scans to examine internal tooth structure
- Tooth roots were fused, a trait seen in early hominins but not modern great apes
- Crete footprints dated to around 6 million years ago show possible hominin characteristics
- Both discoveries are controversial and disputed by most paleoanthropologists
- Raises possibility that earliest hominin evolution may not have been Africa-exclusive
Related site: Southwest Temple of the Ancient Agora of Athens — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Scientists Keep Finding Humans Where They Shouldn’t Be by Michael Button