Homo sapiens skull in China may be 1 million years old. Study published September 2025 suggests Homo sapiens may be 1 million years old Skull extracted from Hanjang River Terrace in China Originally miscategorized as Homo erectus, now reclassified as early Homo longi

Million-year-old skull in China may rewrite human evolution 💀

A skull from Hubei Province has been digitally reconstructed, with researchers finding features suggesting the fossil belonged to early Homo longi (known as "Dragon Man"), potentially revising our understanding of human evolution timelines. If correct, this pushes the divergence of modern humans from ancient ancestors earlier than believed.

Key facts:

- Study published September 2025 suggests the Homo sapiens lineage may be older than previously thought

- Skull found in Hubei Province in 1990, digitally reconstructed from squashed remains

- Originally miscategorized as Homo erectus, now reclassified as early Homo longi

- Computer modeling used for restoration

- Finding implies the divergence of our lineage may have occurred 400,000 years earlier than believed

- Archaic humans and early members of our lineage overlapped for much longer than believed

Key facts claimed:

- Study published September 2025 suggests Homo sapiens may be 1 million years old

- Skull found in Hubei Province, China (excavated in 1990)

- Originally miscategorized as Homo erectus, now reclassified as early Homo longi

- Computer modeling used for restoration

- Finding suggests Homo sapiens coexisted with Neanderthals and Homo longi for much longer than believed

Key Facts

  • Study published September 2025 suggests Homo sapiens may be 1 million years old
  • Skull extracted from Hanjang River Terrace in China
  • Originally miscategorized as Homo erectus, now reclassified as early Homo longi
  • Computer modeling and 3D printing used for restoration
  • Finding suggests Homo sapiens coexisted with Neanderthals and Homo longi for much longer than believed
  • If correct, would push back human evolution timeline by at least 500,000 years
  • Professor Chris Stringer of Natural History Museum co-led the research
  • Stringer suggests million-year-old Homo sapiens fossils likely exist somewhere on Earth but not yet found

Source: Five New Discoveries Rewriting Human History by Curious Being