Fossils unearthed in various regions of China could rewrite what we know about human evolution. Skull fragments, teeth, jaws, and other fossilized remains of hominins – ancient members of the human lineage – dating back between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago are drawing the attention of scientists worldwide.

Anthropologist Christopher Bae from the University of Hawaii, along with researcher Wu Xiujie from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, is analyzing these findings from a fresh perspective. They propose the existence of a previously unknown human species: Homo juluensis, whose name refers to the Chinese term “ju lu” (big head).

One of the most remarkable features of this possible new species is its cranial capacity, which may have reached up to 1,800 cm³—significantly larger than the average of our species, Homo sapiens, which ranges between 1,350 and 1,450 cm³. This discovery raises intriguing questions about how these hominins lived, thought, and adapted to their environment.
Among the most intriguing fossils are 21 specimens discovered in the 1970s at the Xujiayao archaeological site in northern China. These remains, belonging to 16 individuals, date back approximately 200,000 to 160,000 years. However, the proposal that these fossils represent a new species has sparked debates within the scientific community, with some experts arguing that more evidence is needed for such classification.
If confirmed, Homo juluensis could help fill gaps in the mysteries of human evolution, including the disappearance of other populations like the Denisovans—an ancient human group identified from DNA fragments in a bone found in the Denisova Cave in Siberia.
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