Adult fossil strengthens evidence Homo erectus lived in southern Africa 2 million years ago

The discovery supports an earlier timeline for the human ancestor and sheds light on another hominin that shared its landscape.

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

An adult fossil from South Africa strengthens evidence that Homo erectus lived in southern Africa about 2 million years ago, roughly 200,000 years earlier than previously thought. The finding supports an earlier identification based on a child's skull and offers a clearer picture of two ancient human relatives that lived alongside one another.

The fossil, designated DNH 127, comes from Drimolen Main Quarry near Johannesburg. An international research team attributed it to Homo erectus in a study published in the Annals of Human Biology, ScienceAlert reported.

“This paper publishes a new adult fossil attributed to Homo erectus, DNH 127, providing further confirmation that this species first appeared in southern Africa 2 million years ago,” said Jesse Martin, an archaeologist at Australia's La Trobe University.

The timeline builds on earlier evidence rather than establishing the date for the first time. A child's skull fragment, DNH 134, had already been dated to the same period, but its young age complicated comparisons with adult specimens.

Researchers examined 18 fossils, using their physical characteristics to identify species and geological techniques, including radioactive dating, to establish their age. Alongside DNH 127, they assigned 14 fossils to Paranthropus robustus, a more distant human relative with heavy jaws and large teeth suited to processing tough food.

The findings suggest contrasting evolutionary paths. While Homo erectus developed larger brains and smaller teeth, P. robustus developed larger teeth and stronger chewing muscles. The newly studied P. robustus fossils also showed previously unrecorded jaw characteristics and variation that could help researchers trace changes within the species.

“These two human species shared the same landscape and are both preserved in the Drimolen cave,” Martin said. He noted that P. robustus outnumbered Homo erectus at Drimolen by more than 10 to one about 2 million years ago, despite the eventual survival of the Homo erectus lineage.

The evidence nevertheless rests on relatively small fossil fragments. ScienceAlert cautioned that further investigation is needed to confirm the species identifications at this age. More than 100 fossil fragments have been found at Drimolen, providing material for further study.

Analysis

Why This Matters

An adult specimen strengthens an early Homo erectus identification previously supported by a child's skull, which was harder to compare with adults.
The findings illuminate overlapping human lineages rather than a simple sequence in which one species replaced another.

Background

Human evolution is a branching history, with multiple hominin species sharing landscapes. Fossil anatomy helps researchers distinguish those species, while geological dating places them in time. Fragmentary remains can make both identification and evolutionary interpretation difficult.

Key Perspectives

Research team: The researchers interpret DNH 127 as additional evidence for Homo erectus in southern Africa about 2 million years ago. They also see the Drimolen collection as a window into evolutionary changes within P. robustus.

Evolutionary perspective: The abundance of P. robustus at Drimolen contrasts with the eventual survival of the Homo erectus lineage. Local abundance at one point in time does not establish a lineage's long-term prospects.

Evidence and caution: ScienceAlert highlights the small size of the fragments and the need for further investigation. The new adult fossil strengthens an existing interpretation rather than independently settling every question about the species' emergence.

What to Watch

Whether further anatomical comparisons support the identification of DNH 127 as Homo erectus.
Results from additional study of the fossils already recovered at Drimolen.
Whether new discoveries clarify variation within P. robustus and its coexistence with Homo erectus.

Sources

New Fossil Confirms a Human Ancestor Appeared 200,000 Years Earlier Than Expected · ScienceAlert

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe adult fossil strengthens evidence that Homo erectus lived in southern Africa about 2 million years ago.ScienceAlert: “This paper publishes a new adult fossil attributed to Homo erectus, DNH 127, providing further confirmation that this species first appeared in southern Africa 2 million years ago,”
SupportedThe finding places the emergence about 200,000 years earlier than previously expected.ScienceAlert: “pushes back the emergence of these proto-people by about 200,000 years.”
Partly supportedAn earlier identification of Homo erectus was based on the child's skull fragment DNH 134.ScienceAlert: “a skull fragment designated as DNH 134 had already been dated to the same period. However, DNH 134 belonged to a young child”
SupportedJesse Martin said the adult fossil provides further confirmation of Homo erectus appearing in southern Africa 2 million years ago.ScienceAlert: ““This paper publishes a new adult fossil attributed to Homo erectus, DNH 127, providing further confirmation that this species first appeared in southern Africa 2 million years ago,” says archaeologist Jesse Martin, from La Trobe University in Australia.”
SupportedResearchers analyzed 18 fossils.ScienceAlert: “A total of 18 fossils were analyzed in this latest research”
SupportedThe researchers assigned 14 fossils to Paranthropus robustus.ScienceAlert: “the team also linked 14 fossils to another hominin, Paranthropus robustus.”
SupportedThe discovery sheds light on another hominin that shared the landscape with Homo erectus.ScienceAlert: ““These two human species shared the same landscape and are both preserved in the Drimolen cave,” says Martin.”
SupportedHomo erectus developed larger brains and smaller teeth, while Paranthropus robustus developed larger teeth and stronger chewing muscles.ScienceAlert: “At the same time as H. erectus was evolving larger brains and smaller teeth, the teeth of P. robustus were getting bigger, and their chewing muscles were getting stronger (shown by jaw shapes).”
SupportedMartin said Paranthropus robustus outnumbered Homo erectus at Drimolen by more than 10 to one about 2 million years ago.ScienceAlert: ““While we know that Homo erectus and the lineage leading to us was ultimately the successful one, 2 million years ago P. robustus outnumbered Homo erectus at Drimolen by more than 10 to one.””
SupportedThe newly studied Paranthropus robustus fossils showed jaw characteristics not previously seen and several areas of variation.ScienceAlert: “Overall, the new P. robustus fossils revealed some characteristics in jaw structure that hadn't been seen before, and several areas of variation.”
SupportedThe evidence consists of relatively small fossil fragments, and further investigation is needed to confirm the species identifications at this age.ScienceAlert: “It’s worth bearing in mind that the fossils here are relatively small fragments, and further investigation will be required to confirm the presence of H. erectus and P. robustus this far back in time.”