Fossils Reveal A New Species of Ancient Human in the Philippines

A toe from a member of the species Homo luzonensis recently discovered in the Philippines. (Credit: Callao Cave Archaeology Project) At the northern tip of the Philippine island of Luzon lays Callao Cave, an expansive, seven-chamber limestone warren. Researchers report today they have uncovered the bones of a now-extinct, previously unknown human species near the far end of the first chamber. The discovery adds to growing evidence that human evolution and dispersal out of Africa is much more complicated than scientists once thought and and reinforces the importance of Southeast Asia in the history of our species. The researchers say this discovery is only the beginning. "There is no reason why archaeological research in the Philippines couldn't discover several species of hominin," Philip Piper, an archaeologist at The Australian National University, who co-authored the new research, said in a statement. "It's probably just a matter of time."