A recently discovered fossil of an ape known as Anadoluvius turkae, part of the hominine group that consists of African apes and humans, has been found at the Çorakyerler fossil site in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. This fossil is credited to the work of Sevim-Erol, A., Begun, D.R., Sözer, Ç.S. among others.
Anadoluvius, a fossil hominine that lived nearly 9 million years ago, is considered to be a forebear to modern African apes and humans.
This new discovery of an 8.7-million-year-old fossilized ape in Turkey is contesting the widely held beliefs regarding human evolution. It strengthens the theory that the precursors of African apes and humans may have originally evolved in Europe, later migrating to Africa around 7 to 9 million years ago.
With support from Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the identification and analysis of Anadoluvius turkae from the Çorakyerler fossil site near Çankırı demonstrate that Mediterranean fossil apes were diverse. They were part of the first known spread of early hominines, including African apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas, as well as humans and their fossilized ancestors.
The recent study was published in Communications Biology and was led by an international research team, including Professor David Begun from the University of Toronto (U of T) and Professor Ayla Sevim Erol from Ankara University.
Professor Begun indicated that hominines not only emerged in western and central Europe but spent over five million years evolving in those regions, eventually spreading to the eastern Mediterranean before moving into Africa, likely due to environmental changes and shrinking forests. Anadoluvius is currently only identified in Europe and Anatolia.
The conclusions were drawn from an analysis of an exceptionally well-preserved partial cranium, discovered in 2015, containing most of the face and the frontal part of the brain case.
Begun further stated that the fossil’s completeness allowed for a comprehensive and nuanced analysis using various characteristics. The forehead’s new part is preserved up to the crown of the cranium, providing more information than previously described fossils.
The excavation of Anadoluvius turkae’s fossil revealed significant details about the creature, such as its size (similar to a large male chimpanzee or a female gorilla), habitat (dry forest), and probable diet (terrestrial sources like roots and rhizomes).
The creatures living alongside Anadoluvius were typical of African grasslands and dry forests today, including giraffes, wart hogs, rhinos, diverse antelopes, zebras, elephants, porcupines, hyenas, and lion-like carnivores. Studies reveal that this ecological community likely migrated into Africa from the eastern Mediterranean around eight million years ago.
According to Ayla Sevim Erol, Anadoluvius turkae establishes itself as part of the evolutionary lineage that gave rise to modern African apes and humans. Along with other fossil apes from Greece (Ouranopithecus) and Bulgaria (Graecopithecus), Anadoluvius provides the best-preserved evidence that this early hominine group originated in Europe before dispersing into Africa.
The detailed study also suggests that the Balkan and Anatolian apes evolved from ancestors in western and central Europe. This contradicts the alternative scenario where separate ape branches independently moved into Europe from Africa and then went extinct.
Begun emphasized that the findings challenge the conventional view that African apes and humans solely evolved in Africa. He added that the new evidence backs the idea that hominines originated in Europe and moved into Africa between nine and seven million years ago, though further fossils are required to conclusively establish this connection.
The research was supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ankara University, and the Turkish Historical Society. The findings are detailed in the publication “A new ape from Türkiye and the radiation of late Miocene hominines,” dated 23 August 2023, in Communications Biology. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05210-5.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Anadoluvius turkae
What is Anadoluvius turkae and why is it significant?
Anadoluvius turkae is a fossilized ape that lived nearly 9 million years ago, and it is considered to be ancestral to modern African apes and humans. The recent discovery of this 8.7-million-year-old fossil in Turkey challenges established beliefs about human evolution. It strengthens the theory that the precursors of African apes and humans may have evolved in Europe and later migrated to Africa.
Who conducted the research on Anadoluvius turkae?
The research was led by an international team including Professor David Begun at the University of Toronto and Professor Ayla Sevim Erol at Ankara University. The findings were published in Communications Biology.
Where was the Anadoluvius turkae fossil found?
The Anadoluvius turkae fossil was unearthed at the Çorakyerler fossil site near Çankırı in Central Anatolia, Türkiye.
What does the discovery of Anadoluvius turkae suggest about the evolutionary origin of humans and African apes?
The discovery provides evidence that African apes and humans might have originally evolved in Europe before dispersing into Africa between nine and seven million years ago. This challenges the long-held view that they evolved exclusively in Africa.
How was the Anadoluvius turkae fossil preserved, and what does it reveal about the creature’s characteristics?
The Anadoluvius turkae fossil is a significantly well-preserved partial cranium that includes most of the facial structure and the front part of the brain case. It reveals that Anadoluvius was about the size of a large male chimpanzee or a female gorilla, lived in a dry forest setting, and probably had a diet including hard or tough food items from terrestrial sources.
Who funded the study of Anadoluvius turkae?
The study was funded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ankara University, and the Turkish Historical Society.
More about Anadoluvius turkae
- Communications Biology
- Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Ankara University
- Turkish Historical Society
6 comments
This is absolutely mind-blowing! Who would’ve thought our origins could trace back to Europe? The field of anthropology is just full of surprises.
So, what does this mean for current theories? Is Africa still considered the “cradle of humanity”? I’m genuinely curious about where this research will lead.
How can they be sure of this. It’s just one fossil. i think there’s still more to be found before drawing such radical conclusions.
I cant believe this, it’s like every time we think we’ve figured out something about our past, new evidence turns everything upside down.
That’s an incredible discovery; it’s like opening a new chapter in our history. Its important to fund more of these types of research.
a new ape from Turkey that changes our view of evolution? wow, I never thought I’d see the day, simply amazing