Kathmandu, June 27. Chinese paleontologists have recently discovered a giant fossilized skull that could belong to a new species of mankind.

Skull unearthed in 1933

In the research paper published in the Innovation Journal, the authors have described that the skull was originally discovered by a Chinese man in 1993.

In 1933, a Chinese laborer working at the construction of a bridge in the north Chinese city of Harbin found the giant skull. Realizing the cultural value, the worker wrapped and hid the skull in an abandoned well. 85 years later, in 2018, the old laborer lying on his deathbed, told the story to his grandson. The grandson handed over the well-preserved specimen to the scientists.

Analysis of the Skull

Geochemical analysis of the layer of sediments on the skull bone indicated that the skull was of an alive man that lived between 138 and 309 thousand years ago in the Harbin region.

The scientists tagged the skull to a new human species, which they named “Homo longi”, from the Chinese word “long”, meaning dragon. Locals nicknamed the species as “Dragon Man”, as it was discovered near the Black Dragon River in Harbin.

Researchers claimed that Homo Longi represented a sister lineage for Homo sapiens and a closest relative to ancient species such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus.

The Debate

Some scientists argued that instead of belonging to a new species, the skull might be a “Denisovan”, a line of ancient species of people thought to have inhabited throughout Asia.

Co-author of the paper, Ni Xijun, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hebei GEO University, said that there was not enough evidence yet to conclude the fossil was a Denisovan

‘Even if the skull is Denisovan, the find would be just as stunning, because so little remains of this group,’ Ni added.

Click here to read the detailed research article entitled “Geochemical provenancing and direct dating of the Harbin archaic human cranium” published in The Innovation Journal on June 25, 2021.