‘Dragon Man’ skull discovered in China could be new human species

The discovery of new skull dating back to more than 140,000 years could fundamentally alter our understanding of human evolution, scientists say.

A skull preserved almost perfectly for more than 140,000 years in northeastern China represents a new species of ancient people more closely related to us than even Neanderthals – and could fundamentally alter our understanding of human evolution, scientists announced on Friday. It belonged to a large-brained male in his 50s with deep-set eyes and thick brow ridges. Though his face was wide, it had flat, low cheekbones that made him resemble modern people more closely than other extinct members of the human family tree. The research team has linked the specimen to other Chinese fossil findings and is calling the species Homo longi or “Dragon Man,” a reference to the region where it was discovered.