The human skull that challenges the Out of Africa theory

[Num7]

This is the account of the discovery of a skull that has the potential to change what we know about human evolution, and a suppression and cover-up which followed.

In 1959, in an area called Chalkidiki in Petralona, Northern Greece, a shepherd came across a small opening to a cave, which became visible when a thick covering of snow finally melted. He gathered a group of villagers to help him clear the entrance so they could go inside and explore. They found a cave rich in stalactites and stalagmites. But they also found something surprising – a human skull embedded in the wall (later research also uncovered a huge number of fossils including pre-human species, animal hair, fossilized wood, and stone and bone tools).

In 1964, independent German researchers, Breitinger and Sickenberg, tried to dismiss Dr Poulianos’ findings, arguing that the skull was only 50,000 years old and was indeed an ancestor that came from Africa. However, research published in the US in 1971 in the prestigious Archaeology magazine, backed up the findings that the skull was indeed 700,000 years old. This was based on an analysis of the cave’s stratigraphy and the sediment in which the skull was embedded within. Further research in the cave discovered isolated teeth and two pre-human skeletons dating back 800,000 years, as well as other fossils of various species.

Click here for the full article:
The human skull that challenges the Out of Africa theory | Ancient Origins

 

[Earthmasque]

This is the account of the discovery of a skull that has the potential to change what we know about human evolution, and a suppression and cover-up which followed.

In 1959, in an area called Chalkidiki in Petralona, Northern Greece, a shepherd came across a small opening to a cave, which became visible when a thick covering of snow finally melted. He gathered a group of villagers to help him clear the entrance so they could go inside and explore. They found a cave rich in stalactites and stalagmites. But they also found something surprising – a human skull embedded in the wall (later research also uncovered a huge number of fossils including pre-human species, animal hair, fossilized wood, and stone and bone tools).

In 1964, independent German researchers, Breitinger and Sickenberg, tried to dismiss Dr Poulianos’ findings, arguing that the skull was only 50,000 years old and was indeed an ancestor that came from Africa. However, research published in the US in 1971 in the prestigious Archaeology magazine, backed up the findings that the skull was indeed 700,000 years old. This was based on an analysis of the cave’s stratigraphy and the sediment in which the skull was embedded within. Further research in the cave discovered isolated teeth and two pre-human skeletons dating back 800,000 years, as well as other fossils of various species.

Click here for the full article:
The human skull that challenges the Out of Africa theory | Ancient Origins

From your link:

Today, most academics who have analyzed the Petralona remains say that the cranium of the Archanthropus of Petralona belongs to an archaic hominid distinguished from Homo erectus, and from both the classic Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans, but showing characterists of all those species and presenting strong European traits. A skull dating back 700,000 which is either Homo sapien or part Homo sapien is in direct conflict with the Out of Africa theory of human evolution.

(my emphasis.)
This skull is not Homo Sapiens. If it were, more than the "Out of Africa" theory would be in trouble!

Your linked site seems to be trying to make hay out of the fact that the fossil is referred to as "human." Either that, or the author is ignorant because the term "human" is correctly applied to any species of the Genus Homo - including the (at least) 2.3 million year old Homo Habilis.

The presence of a skull of the Genus Homo outside of Africa is actually rather ho-hum. It has no impact whatsoever on the Out of Africa theory, since that theory postulates that Homo Sapiens arose in Africa, not that other members of the Genus never left.

I mean, there's a "Homo" in front of the classification for all the Erectuses (whatever the plural of that word is - Erecti? LOL) - Ergaster, Heidlebergensis, and other variations (depending on who you ask.) There is also a "Homo" in front of the classification for Neanderthal.

All these species predate the Greek find. All have been found outside of Africa.

 

[Night Templar]

Appreciate any news in this area being posted, "good , bad or indifferent". Nothing to add, just that sharing it, made for an interesting read. Guess if I was an anthropologist or archeologist I might have appreciated it even more.