Unearthed Hualongdong fossils reveal secrets of human evolution

HEFEI — Chinese scientists have unearthed dozens of human fossils dating back 300,000 years, the earliest evidence in East Asia of the evolutionary transition toward Homo sapiens, the species to which all modern humans belong.

The fossils, along with animal bones and stone tools, were discovered at the Hualongdong site in Dongzhi county, Anhui province. Researchers presented their findings at a conference in Dongzhi this week, which drew nearly 100 experts, including more than a dozen international scholars.

Since its discovery in 1988, Hualongdong has produced significant finds during excavations ongoing since 2013.