Discover the world's oldest fossil skin in South Africa

Scientists discovered skin tissue belonging to two million-year-old fossil skeletons, found in South Africa.

Discover the oldest fossil skin in the world

Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, discovered a layer of skin tissue in the cave of the Malapa nature reserve, near Johannesburg. They argue that they belong to Australopithecus sediba, the ancestors of humans with primitive characteristics and some more advanced features. This is the transition between the ape-type Australopithecus (the first species to go upright) - the Homo and died about two million years ago.

The skin tissue layer is separated from Australopithecus sediba skull in the Malapa area.(Photo: AFP)

Professor Lee Berger of the expert group said it was the oldest skin tissue ever , able to provide an important research point about the life of the ancient people. Signs of excess food are also found in the teeth of the skeletons.

"We found that this is not a normal form of rock but they contain organic matter inside. Based on the things stuck in the teeth, we can determine what they have eaten , " Lee Berger said.

According to the IB Times, the investigation began after the professor's 9-year-old son found a piece of fossil bone in Malapa in 2008. They unearthed many new bone fragments and the skull was almost complete before the attack. father discovered in 2010.

Scientists decided to build a laboratory in the search area to protect fossils.