Fossilised skulls, Sima de los Huesos
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Fossilised skulls, Sima de los Huesos
Fossilised skulls, Sima de los Huesos. These human skulls are amongst many hundreds of pieces of human fossils found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones). It is thought that the site was used as a cemetary by early humans, 400, 000 years ago. The skulls were classified as Homo heidelbergensis, an extinct species that forms a relatively recent part of the human evolutionary tree. It may have been an ancestor of both Neanderthals and modern humans. There is debate over whether the fossils should be attributed to H. heidelbergensis or H. neanderthalensis, as some anatomical features are transitional between the two species. Sima de los Huesos is one of several sites in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, that have been studied on and off over the past century, leading to a massive advancement in the understanding of human evolution. In 2000, Sierra de Atapuerca was made a world heritage site by UNESCO
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Media ID 6343641
© JAVIER TRUEBA/MSF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Anthropological Anthropology Archaeological Archaeological Site Archaeology Broken Cranium Early Evidence Evolutionary Biology Excavated Fossil Fossilised Hominid Hominoid Homo Heidelbergensis Human Evolution Humanity Palaentological Palaeoanthropology Paleoanthropology Pieces Pit Of Bones Preserved Remains Sierra De Atapuerca Sima De Los Huesos Skulls Spain Unesco Unique World Heritage Site Palaeontology
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a collection of fossilized skulls discovered at Sima de los Huesos, also known as the Pit of Bones. These ancient human remains are just a fraction of the hundreds of fossils found at this site, believed to have served as a burial ground for early humans approximately 400,000 years ago. The skulls have been identified as Homo heidelbergensis, an extinct species that holds significant importance in our understanding of human evolution. Considered a relatively recent branch on the human evolutionary tree, Homo heidelbergensis is thought to be a potential ancestor to both Neanderthals and modern humans. However, there is ongoing debate among experts whether these particular fossils should be attributed to H. heidelbergensis or H. neanderthalensis due to certain anatomical features that bridge the gap between the two species. Sima de los Huesos forms part of Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain—a region with several archaeological sites that have greatly contributed to our knowledge of human evolution over the past century. In recognition of its scientific significance, UNESCO designated Sierra de Atapuerca as a world heritage site in 2000. This remarkable photograph not only captures the unique beauty and fragility of these fossilized craniums but also serves as evidence preserving humanity's rich history and deepening our understanding of our own origins through anthropology, paleontology, and evolutionary biology research.
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