- READ MORE: Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor
Scientists have discovered the oldest human face in Western Europe, potentially rewriting the story of human evolution.
The ancient human nicknamed 'Pink' lived in Spain 's Iberian Peninsula between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago.
That means Pink easily predates the arrival of modern humans, Homo sapiens, on the continent just 45,000 years ago.
The fossilised remains are distinct from other ancient hominin remains found in the area, raising the possibility that Pink could be an entirely new human species.
The fragments of this hominin face were discovered in 2022 inside a cave called Sima del Elefante, where some of Europe's most ancient human remains have been found.
Nevertheless, Pink seems to have a distinct architecture compared to Homo antecessor, another hominin species that inhabited the region as far back as 860,000 years ago.
Rather than resembling us, he looks more like Homo erectus, an even older human species that appeared in Africa about two million years ago and was the first to walk upright just as we do today.
Researchers think that Pink's species might have been some of the earliest humans to reach Europe, only to be eradicated later due to rapid climatic changes.
Consisting of various fragmented pieces along with sections of two teeth, the skeletal remnants discovered at Sima del Elephant are thought to represent the earliest known instance of human face bones uncovered in Western Europe.
The research team dubbed the person 'Pink' inspired by Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side of the Moon," known as 'La Cara Oculta de la Luna' in Spanish, with 'cara oculta' translating to 'hidden face.'
Once Pink’s remains were uncovered, researchers originally believed that they might be attributed to another of the early human species that had been identified in the region.
Inside the cave, earlier studies revealed the presence of Homo antecessor fossils estimated at around 860,000 years old.
By examining the numerous other animal fossils discovered in the same stratum of the cave along with the indications of periodic changes in Earth’s magnetic field imprinted in the soil, scientists determined that Pink's remains are approximately 1.1 to 1.4 million years old.
Moreover, upon meticulously rebuilding the remains, it was evident that Pink’s facial structure did not match any known ancient human species from the region.
Dr María Martinón, who leads the National Centre for Research on Human Evolution, comments: "While Homo antecessor has a more contemporary appearance with a defined nasal bone area similar to Homo sapiens, Pink displays characteristics closer to those found in Homo erectus, specifically through its flatter and less developed nose."
Homo erectus was the first human species to develop an upright gait and posture like a modern human and was the first to use stone hand tools for cutting.
After emerging in Africa around two million years ago, this species migrated out into Asia and even made its way into Eastern Europe.
At a site in modern-day Georgia, palaeontologists have discovered five skulls belonging to Homo erectus dating back 1.8 million years .
However, the Western European fossil record is extremely bare before 800,000 years ago.
Scientists have only found a single tooth and some stone tools dating to 1.4 million years ago in Spain, along with a jawbone at Sima del Elefante dated to 1.1 million years ago.
Near Pink's remains, researchers also discovered stone tools made of quartz and flint, alongside animal bones bearing clear cut marks.
This indicates that Pink and their relatives had already developed a simple tool 'industry' and knew how to butcher animals for meat just like Homo erectus.
Study co-author Dr Xosé Pedro Rodríguez, of the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), says: 'They suggest an effective subsistence strategy and highlight the hominins’ ability to exploit the resources available in their environment.'
If Pink really is a member of Homo erectus, then this find would show that this human ancestor species spread itself far wider and far earlier than scientists had previously thought.
However, the researchers aren't convinced that Pink is just another member of this human ancestor species.
Although their skulls are similar, Pink's facial structure is narrower than examples of Homo erectus found across Asia and Africa.
But, with only fragments of bone and two worn teeth to go on, the researchers cannot yet be certain that Pink is an entirely new species.
Instead, they opted to designate Pink as 'Homo affinis erectus', using the Latin term 'affinis' to mean that it has an affinity with the known species.
Dr Martinón says: 'The evidence is still insufficient for a definitive classification, which is why we adopted the name Homo affinis erectus.
She adds that this was done to 'acknowledge Pink’s affinities with Homo erectus while leaving open the possibility that the remains may belong to another species.'
The researchers argue that Pink's species was part of the first wave of human migration into Western Europe.
Yet, that first migration appears to have been cut off abruptly when the climate of the Iberian Peninsula suddenly changed.
At the time Pink lived in Spain, the Sierra de Atapuerca region would have featured a mix of wooded areas, wet grasslands, and seasonal water sources - making for a resource-rich environment for ancient humans.
However, previous studies suggest that there may have been a sudden climatic shift around 1.1 million years ago which could have wiped out the human population.
That could explain why there is such a large gap in the fossil record between Pink and the later Homo antecessor remains.
Dr Eudald Carbonell, a palaeontologist from URV and co-director of the project, says: 'Evidence for different hominin populations in Western Europe during the Early Pleistocene suggests that this region was a key point in the evolutionary history of the genus Homo.'
Read more