The fossil discovered at the Çorakyerler site was named Anadoluvius turkae. This is a remarkably well-preserved partial skull, including most of the facial structure and the anterior part of the skull. This discovery offers valuable information on the anatomy of this ancient hominid.
Professor David Begun of the University of Toronto and Professor Ayla Sevim Erol of Ankara University led the international team of researchers responsible for this study. Their findings suggest that hominids not only evolved in western and central Europe, but thrived there for more than five million years before dispersing to the eastern Mediterranean and, ultimately, Africa.
This discovery is part of a broader context of questioning our origins. Recently, scientists made an exciting discovery: a new human species revealed in China, further expanding our understanding of ancient hominid diversity.
An unexpected environment for our ancestors
Anadoluvius turkae was a hominid of imposing size, comparable to a large male chimpanzee or a female gorilla. Its presumed habitat differs considerably from that of today’s great apes. Therefore, geological and paleontological evidence suggests that he lived in a relatively open environment, similar to present-day African savannahs.
Professor Sevim Erol explains: “The powerful jaws and broad teeth with thick enamel suggest a diet including hard or leathery foods from terrestrial sources such as roots and rhizomes. » This dietary adaptation is consistent with a more terrestrial lifestyle than that of modern forest apes.
The ecosystem in which evolved Anadoluvius turkae sheltered a diverse fauna, reminiscent of that of today’s African savannahs:
- Giraffes
- Warthogs
- Rhinoceros
- Various antelopes
- Zebras
- Elephants
- Porcs-epics
- Hyenas
- Carnivores related to lions
This ecological community probably dispersed to Africa from the eastern Mediterranean about eight million years ago.
Implications for the theory of human evolution
The discovery ofAnadoluvius turkae fits into a broader context of European hominid fossilsnotably Ouranopithecus in Greece and Graecopithecus in Bulgaria. These specimens constitute the strongest evidence yet that this group evolved in Europe before migrating to Africa.
The study’s detailed analysis shows that Balkan and Anatolian apes evolved from ancestors in Western and Central Europe. This suggests that the entire hominid group probably developed and diversified in Europerather than seeing distinct branches moving independently from Africa to Europe over millions of years before dying out.
Here is a comparative table of the main European and African hominid fossils:
| Nom | Localisation | Approximate age |
|---|---|---|
| Anadoluvius turkae | Türkiye | 8.7 million years |
| Ouranopithecus | Greece | 9.6 – 8.7 million years |
| Graecopithecus | Bulgaria | 7.2 million years |
| Sahelanthropus tchadensis | Chad | 7 million years |
This new perspective challenges the traditional view that African great apes and humans evolved exclusively in Africa. Although ancient hominid remains are abundant in Europe and Anatolia, they were completely absent from Africa until the first hominid appeared about seven million years ago.
Future prospects and outstanding questions
Although the discovery ofAnadoluvius turkae provides convincing evidence for a European origin of hominids, it does not definitively prove this theory. To establish a clear link between the two regions, it is necessary to find more fossils in Europe and Africadating back eight to seven million years.
This new evidence supports the hypothesis that hominids originated in Europe and dispersed to Africa with many other mammals between nine and seven million years ago. But, more research is needed to confirm this theory.
The importance ofAnadoluvius turkae goes beyond adding a new species to the fossil record. This discovery offers a unique perspective on the evolutionary journey of hominids, bridging the gap between the European and African fossil records. It encourages scientists to revisit existing theories and consider new possibilities in the story of human origins.
As researchers continue to analyze this fossil and search for other evidence, the story ofAnadoluvius turkae will undoubtedly play a crucial role in our understanding of our origins and evolution. This discovery highlights the importance of fossil sites outside Africa, which have until now been under-researched in the quest for our human origins.
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