Monkey skull fossil 6 million years old in China

Chinese scientists have successfully restored an ancient monkey fossil skull from 6 million years ago.

Xinhua reported that the 6 million-year-old fossil skull of an adult ape was discovered at a brick factory in Yunnan province, southwestern China. Biologists hope this discovery will help clarify the mysteries of human origin.

This skull still retains the facial bones and is not deformed. This will provide valuable information in morphological simulation.

Skull fossil monkey 6 million years old.(Photo: Xinhua)

"This is the second restored skull of a monkey belonging to Lufengpithecus, living in Eurasian continent 5-23 million years ago," said Dr. Ji Xueping from the Institute of Cultural Monuments and Van Nam archaeologist, the research leader spoke at a press conference.

"Research shows that primates have some similar characteristics to humans, such as the length of the eye cavity is longer than the height," said Professor Lu Qingwu of the Institute of Anthropology and Biology, Central Academy of Sciences. Quoc, said.

The skull detected an important role in the study of human ancestors, because the time of primates lived close to the time when humans appeared, about 5-7 million years ago.

Fossils of primates are similarly found in Africa, but are quite rare in Asia. From this perspective, it can be seen that this finding is very important. Scholars are also putting forward the hypothesis that Asia is the cradle of human ancestors, not Africa as previously stated.