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Ancient Homo Erectus Skulls Rewrite Human Migration Timeline

2/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A Science Advances study reports three Homo erectus skulls from Yunxian, China, are about 1.77 million years old, roughly 600,000 years older than prior estimates.
Researchers used aluminum-26 and beryllium-10 isotopes to determine the fossils' ages.
The findings indicate H. erectus spread across Asia more rapidly and earlier than previously believed, thereby changing views on early human dispersal.

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Story summary

A Science Advances study reports three Homo erectus skulls from Yunxian, China, are about 1.77 million years old, roughly 600,000 years older than prior estimates.
Researchers used aluminum-26 and beryllium-10 isotopes to determine the fossils' ages.
The findings indicate H. erectus spread across Asia more rapidly and earlier than previously believed, thereby changing views on early human dispersal.