When did our ancient ancestor Homo erectus first arrive in China out of Africa?

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Holly ChikFebruary 27, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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A new study suggests Homo erectus, a direct ancestor of modern humans, arrived in China nearly 1.8 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously believed. The research, published in Science Advances, analyzed fossils found in Hubei province using advanced dating techniques. This discovery pushes back the estimated arrival date of Homo erectus in East Asia by approximately 600,000 years. The findings imply that this early hominid species may have migrated out of Africa and spread across Eurasia more rapidly and successfully than previously understood. The research team consisted of scientists from universities in China and the United States, who re-examined fossils initially discovered at the Yunxian archaeological site decades ago.

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Purdue University 30% University of Hawaii 30% Shantou University 40% Nanjing Normal University 40% Shanxi University 40% Africa 60% Hubei province 70% Homo erectus ×480% China ×2100%

Keywords

homo erectus 100% human evolution 80% china 70% africa 60% dating techniques 60% fossil analysis 50% early hominids 50% archaeological site 40% eurasia 40%