Main image via BBC

Chinese researchers have unveiled an ancient skull that could belong to a completely new species of human. 

The team has claimed it is our closest evolutionary relative among known species of ancient humans, such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus.

Nicknamed "Dragon Man", the specimen represents a human group that lived in East Asia at least 146,000 years ago.

It was reported that a worker at a bridge construction site in the Chinese city of Harbin dug up the skull in 1933, but hid it in a well to keep it from falling into the hands of the occupying Japanese army. Its existence was only revealed by the worker's family in recent years and donated to the Hebei Geo University for study.

It turns out the worker's intuition that the skull could be significant was correct.

"The Harbin fossil is one of the most complete human cranial fossils in the world," says Qiang Ji, a professor of paleontology of Hebei Geo University and author of a study on the skull.

“This fossil preserved many details that are critical for understanding the evolution of the Homo genus and the origin of Homo sapiens,” he added. 

The discovery has sparked debate among many scholars across the globe. 

This is so cool!

Info via BBC 

By Thineshkan