These remains of Ardipithecus ramidus can help us understand the situation shortly after humans began to distinguish themselves from gorillas, which appeared 6-8 million years ago.
Giles Seymour, a primitive anthropologist at Indiana University in the United States, said, "This is a very important discovery because it confirms that humans began to walk upright 4.5 million years ago."
About ten years ago, anthropologists at the University of California discovered a fossil from this period and named it "Lamida Ape". Since then, this fossil has never been discovered. The researchers said that these fossils provide important reference materials for studying human anatomy and behavioral evolution. Although Lamida ape-man can walk upright, its appearance is still very close to that of chimpanzees.
These fossils were found in Afar region of northern Ethiopia, 500 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. They include teeth, jaws, some toes and fingers.
Among the human fossils found in Africa, those older than 4.3 million years are very rare. Seymour said: "If we can go back to the past, there will not be many primitive humans on the African continent in 4.5 million years or earlier."
Lamida ape-man is considered to be the first branch to differentiate from chimpanzees. Last year, hominid fossils about 5.5 million years ago were discovered. Scientists classify this anthropoid ape as an independent species and call it "red ape". Lamida ape-man looks younger than him.
Semo said: "We now have more than 30 fossils dating back to 4.3 million to 4.5 million years ago."