New Evidence Prooves That Humans Appeared 200,000 Years Earlier

Scientists have found evidence that humans in northern Europe appeared 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

"The discovery that early humans could have existed this far north this long ago was startling," said Chris Stringer, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum and one of the four British scientists who took part in the study.

Manmade stone tools have been discovered in Suffolk, in the UK, and indicate humans were living there at least 680,000 years ago.

The earliest human colonization in this region was previously thought to be about 500,000 years ago and belonged to the species Homo heidelbergensis. Homo heidelbergensis remains have been found in Sussex, England, and Heidelberg, Germany.

The site in Pakefield, Suffolk uncovered 32 flint tools and a diverse range of plant and animal fossils. Animals such as hippopotamus, elephants and rhinos would have been living alongside the early humans who had made these tools.

"We do not yet know whether the people at Pakefield were part of a population that gave rise to heidelbergensis. Or whether new people bearing handaxe tools came into western Europe and replaced or absorbed the previous inhabitants. Obviously this discovery is very exciting and anything that encourages people to visit Pakefield and Lowestoft is absolutely great because they are wonderful places to come and see. It raises the whole profile of the area and people are more than welcome to come and walk our shores," he added.

Image Credits: The Natural History Museum