Homo juluensis: Big-headed early human is a new branch on our expanding family tree

Researchers have identified a new species of ancient humans, which they have named Homo juluensis, meaning “big head,” based partly on a very large skull found in China.

In a study published [in] May 2024 in … PaleoAnthropology, [anthropologist Christopher Bae and paleoanthropologist Xiujie Wu] described a set of unusual hominin fossils [found] at Xujiayao in northern China. The skull was very large and wide, with some Neanderthal-like features. But it also had traits common to modern humans and to Denisovans.

“Collectively, these fossils represent a new form of large-brained hominin (Juluren) that was widespread throughout much of eastern Asia during the Late Quaternary [300,000 to 50,000 years ago],” they wrote.

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