Science

cleanhippie

(19,705 posts) Wed Mar 14, 2012, 01:10 PM Mar 2012

Human fossils hint at new species

The remains of what may be a previously unknown human species have been identified in southern China.

The bones, which represent at least five individuals, have been dated to between 11,500 and 14,500 years ago.

But scientists are calling them simply the Red Deer Cave people, after one of the sites where they were unearthed.

The team has told the PLoS One journal that far more detailed analysis of the fossils is required before they can be ascribed to a new human lineage.

"We're trying to be very careful at this stage about definitely classifying them," said study co-leader Darren Curnoe from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17370170

7 replies

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Human fossils hint at new species (Original Post) cleanhippie Mar 2012 OP

For a human subspecies to survive in to the Pleistocene is stunning denbot Mar 2012 #1

Likely the populations rebounded in the intervening 60,000 +/-10,000 years Warpy Mar 2012 #4

I would tend to agree. denbot Mar 2012 #5

My own best guess says that the migration out of Africa happened in waves, most Warpy Mar 2012 #6

Were they wearing sweater vests? LiberalEsto Mar 2012 #2

Wow! Stephanie Kopf Mar 2012 #3

Could these be the "Desinovans"? Odin2005 Mar 2012 #7

denbot

(9,899 posts)

1. For a human subspecies to survive in to the Pleistocene is stunning

Reply to cleanhippie (Original post)

Wed Mar 14, 2012, 01:43 PM

Mar 2012

There was a human genetic bottle neck about 70k years ago. I would guess that these individuals are more likely an isolated population remanent.

Warpy

(111,245 posts)

4. Likely the populations rebounded in the intervening 60,000 +/-10,000 years

Reply to denbot (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 14, 2012, 05:15 PM

Mar 2012

even with the Dryas stadials and other environmental pressures.

They, like Neanderthals, were likely more susceptible to climate change and were likely interbred out of existence.

denbot

(9,899 posts)

5. I would tend to agree.

Reply to Warpy (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 14, 2012, 05:48 PM

Mar 2012

IMHO The more plausible answer would be instead of an early Homo off shoot surviving all that time without being out displaced or interbred, it is more likely a surviving population that was isolated, and in an "island" biome could exhibit hybrid traits that suggest a speciation event.