In the conference held on September 12 in Hebei GEO University, Professor Ji Qiang, a well-known paleontologist, discovered in Harbin, whichis considered to be one of the most complete fossils of ancient humans ever found.
This is the first discovery of a Homo heidelbergensistypefossil in Asia,said ProfessorNi Xijun, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at Chinese Academy of Sciences as well as a visiting professor of HGU.
During the conference, Professor Ji introduced the story of the skull: the skull was first found in 1933, but it kept unknown because of the situation. Professor Ji knew the fossil in the August of 2017 when he was visiting Guilin. At that time, it was belong to a farmer. After several times of negotiation, the farmer finally donated the fossil to Hebei GEO University in May, 2018 and is now kept in the Geo-science Museum of the University. Now, Professor Ji and his team are conducting scientific research in Harbin, the site where the skull was found.
Ji said the skull is thought to be at least 200,000 to 400,000 years old.
This discovery will of great importance for the study of the origin of human being.considering Homo heidelbergensis is the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Homo neanderthalensis and Denisovan, Ji said.
President Wang Fengming indicated that Professor Ji’s discovery is of great scientific value and the university will fully support Professor Ji and his team’s research on the related fields.
Professor Ji Qiang is telling the story of the skull.
Professor Ni Xijun is interpreting the importance of the fossil.
