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Atapuerca rewrites the history of Europe’s first inhabitants

03.12.25 | University College London

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Original fossil (ATE7-1) alongside the mirrored right side by means of virtual 3D imaging techniques of the face of a hominin assigned to Homo aff. erectus found in level the TE7 of Sima del Elefante site.
Original fossil (ATE7-1) alongside the mirrored right side by means of virtual 3D imaging techniques of the face of a hominin assigned to Homo aff. erectus found in level the TE7 of Sima del Elefante site. Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA / Elena Santos / CENIEH. Credit: Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA / Elena Santos / CENIEH.

Nature

10.1038/s41586-025-08681-0

People

The earliest human face of Western Europe

12-Mar-2025

Additional Media

3D virtual reconstruction of the ATE7-1 individual recovered at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante site (Atapuerca, Burgos). Credit: Elena Santos / CENIEH. Credit: Credit: Elena Santos / CENIEH.
Archaeological excavation work at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos).
Archaeological excavation work at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA. Credit: Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA.
Archaeological excavation work at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Credit: Javier Trueba / Madrid Scientific Films /IPHES-CERCA. Credit: Credit: Javier Trueba / Madrid Scientific Films / IPHES-CERCA.
Dr. Rosa Huguet, researcher at IPHES-CERCA and professor at Rovira i Virgili University. First author of the paper.
Dr. Rosa Huguet, researcher at IPHES-CERCA and professor at Rovira i Virgili University. First author of the paper. Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA. Credit: Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA.
Original fossil (ATE7-1) of the midface of a hominin assigned to Homo aff. erectus recovered at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos).
Original fossil (ATE7-1) of the midface of a hominin assigned to Homo aff. erectus recovered at level TE7 of the Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA. Credit: Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA.
General view of the archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos).
General view of the archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA. Credit: Credit: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA.

Keywords

Anthropology Early Humans Evolution Fossils History Of Life Hominids Homo Antecessor Human Evolution Human Origins

Article Information

Journal
Nature
DOI
10.1038/s41586-025-08681-0
Subject of Research
People
Article Publication Date
2025-03-12
Article Title
The earliest human face of Western Europe

Contact Information

Gerard Campeny
Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA)
comunicacio@iphes.cat
Sophie Hunter
University College London
sophie.hunter@ucl.ac.uk

How to Cite This Article

APA:
University College London. (2025, March 12). Atapuerca rewrites the history of Europe’s first inhabitants. Brightsurf News. https://www.brightsurf.com/news/147N5R41/atapuerca-rewrites-the-history-of-europes-first-inhabitants.html
MLA:
"Atapuerca rewrites the history of Europe’s first inhabitants." Brightsurf News, Mar. 12 2025, https://www.brightsurf.com/news/147N5R41/atapuerca-rewrites-the-history-of-europes-first-inhabitants.html.