Very rare fossils of gibbons

Archaeologists say they unearthed the skull of an immature gibbon of about 6 million years in China's Yunnan Province, thereby shedding light on human evolution.

The ChinaView newspaper quoted scientist Ji Xueping, who led the study, also discovered a second skull of a 5 million-year-old ape that once lived in the Eurasian continent.

According to Mr. Ji Xueping, these skulls are of great significance when primates transform into humans from 5 to 7 million years ago. ChinaView also quoted Lu Qingwu (Institute of Vertebrate Biology and Ancient Anthropology), who said in Africa that ancient fossil primates were found to date with this discovery, but in Asia it is very rare.

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The detailed report was published in the journal Bulletin science, after nearly 4 years Professor Ji and his fellows found fossils in a pit in the brick factory in Shuitangba, Zhaotong city. Through testing, scientists determined that the age of the gibbon was 6.1 - 6.2 million years at the end of the Miocene period and is considered to be the youngest of the ancient primates discovered in Yunnan. . The skull is well preserved, the facial bones are quite adequate.

Professor Lu Qingwu said primates have some common characteristics with humans. A concrete example is that the width of the eye socket is longer than the height of the eye. According to Professor Ji, the relationship between gibbons was found with an evolutionary connection to people of time and morphology. However, other fossil evidence must still be sought. Professor Lu's view is that people previously thought that humans originated in Africa. But recent findings suggest that the cradle of humanity in Asia. Of course, there must be more evidence of archeology.

In the area where the gibbon fossils were discovered, in 2007, three unseen skeletons of elephants were estimated to be around 6 million years old.