Researchers have revealed the possible existence of a new human species in Asia: Homo juluensis. Identified through fossils discovered in China, this species is distinguished by a striking characteristic: an exceptionally large skull, with a brain capacity exceeding that of Homo sapiens.
If this discovery is confirmed, it could alter our understanding of human evolution and the diversity of hominids that have lived on Earth. Currently, the scientific community is debating the classification of these fossils and the implications they could have on the history of our species.
Homo juluensis: An Unknown Species with a Giant Brain
One of the major features of the fossils attributed to Homo juluensis is the size of their skull. Their brain capacity is estimated at 1,800 cm³, compared to 1,350 cm³ for a modern Homo sapiens.
Here is a comparison of the cranial capacities of different human species:
Species | Average cranial capacity (cm³)
------- | --------
Homo floresiensis | 400
Homo erectus | 900
Homo sapiens | 1,350
Homo neanderthalensis | 1,600
Homo juluensis (estimated) | 1,800
While brain size is not directly correlated with intelligence, a larger brain could indicate advanced cognitive abilities or a specific adaptation to a particular environment.
Distinctive Morphological Traits
The recovered fossils exhibit unusual characteristics that do not correspond to any other known species:
A wide and low skull, distinct from that of Neanderthals and Sapiens.Pronounced brow ridges, similar to those of Homo erectus.Robust and large teeth, with shovel-shaped incisors, a characteristic found in some Asian hominids.A reduced occipital torus, different from other archaic human species.
These traits suggest that Homo juluensis possessed a unique blend of primitive and modern characteristics, making its exact placement in the evolutionary tree complex.
Where and When Did These Humans Live?
The fossils of Homo juluensis have been found at several sites in China, including Xujiayao and Xuchang, in the center of the country. These discoveries indicate that this species lived between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago, a period when several human species coexisted on Earth.
During this time, Asia was a territory occupied by various hominids, including:
Homo erectus, present in China for about 1.6 million years.The Denisovans, a mysterious species that left its DNA in some modern populations of Asia and Oceania.Homo sapiens, who are believed to have reached the region about 100,000 years ago.
This diversity suggests that several human lineages coexisted and may have even interacted.
Superior Intelligence? What We Know About the Abilities of Homo juluensis
The brain size of Homo juluensis suggests that it possessed advanced cognitive abilities. But did it have an intelligence superior to that of other human species?
Researchers emphasize that brain size isn't everything. Indeed, other factors influence intelligence, such as the internal organization of the brain and the efficiency of neuronal connections.
However, some hypotheses can be advanced:
A complex social life: a more developed brain could indicate an increased capacity for communication and cooperation within a group.The use of advanced tools: although few artifacts have been found with the fossils, it is possible that Homo juluensis used more sophisticated tools than those of its contemporaries.Adaptation to a cold climate: some characteristics, such as the large skull size, could be an adaptation to a hostile environment, similar to Neanderthals in Europe.
Why Did This Species Disappear?
If Homo juluensis did exist, it eventually disappeared. But why?
Hypotheses about its extinction
Competition with Homo sapiens
When Homo sapiens arrived in Asia, they may have supplanted Homo juluensis, as was the case with Neanderthals in Europe.
Environmental factors
Climate changes at the end of the Pleistocene may have made survival more difficult, by altering the available resources.
Isolation and low genetic diversity
If this species was small in number and isolated, a lack of genetic diversity could have led to its extinction.
A Discovery Still Under Debate
The existence of Homo juluensis is not yet officially recognized. Researchers still need to:
Compare these fossils with other discoveries in Asia.Carry out DNA analyses to verify any similarities with other human species.Determine whether these fossils actually belong to a distinct species or represent a local variation of an already known species.
A Missing Piece of the Puzzle of Human Evolution?
If the recognition of Homo juluensis as a distinct species is validated, it would alter our view of human evolution in Asia. This discovery would remind us that our history is far more complex than we imagined, and that there is still much to learn about our ancestors.
Future studies may provide definitive answers about this enigmatic species and its role in the history of humanity.