NEED TO KNOW

Researchers believe a skull unearthed in 1990 suggests the emergence of the human species occurred 400,000 years earlier than previously believed

The fossil was discovered in China’s Hubei Province

Scientists digitally reconstructed the fossilized skull, which is between 940,000 and 1.1 million years old, to aid their research

A human skull found in 1990 is now changing scientists' understanding of human evolution.

In a study published in the journal Science on Sept. 25, researchers determined that an ancient skull unearthed in China’s Hubei Province over 30 years ago may push back knowledge of the emergence of the human species by 400,000 years.

When discovered, the skull — called Yunxian 2 — was crushed and deformed as a result of the fossilization process, making it

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