Open Access Article
Martin, J. M., Leece, A. B., Baker, S., Herries, A. I. R., & Strait, D. S. (2026). New hominin cranial and mandibular remains from Drimolen Main Quarry, South Africa. Annals of Human Biology, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2026.2725046
Snippet from press release:
In a paper published today [Sept 25] in Annals of Human Biology, the scientists reveal they have identified the first fossil from an adult Homo erectus at Drimolen, dated 2 million years old. This is 200,000 years older than other Homo erectus adult fossils found in other parts of the world like Dmanisi in Georgia which are dated at 1.8 million years old.
“Homo erectus is the first species of hominin that researchers broadly agree fits within our own genus Homo and is likely directly ancestral to us. Drimolen preserves evidence for the first appearance of this species 2 million years ago, however the original fossil, DNH 134, belonged to a child aged between two and four, and there was uncertainty about what the adult version may have looked like,” lead researcher Dr Jesse Martin said.
“This paper publishes a new adult fossil attributed to Homo erectus, DNH 127, providing further confirmation that this species first appeared in southern Africa 2 million years ago.”
The researchers have also been able to confirm that P. robustus underwent micro-evolution, and evolved larger teeth and chewing muscles between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago.