A fragment of skull

China skull may be missing link

Updated 11.06 Wed Jan 23 2008
Keywords: science, archaeology, skull, china, world

Archaeologists in China claim an ancient skull bridges the gap between Ape Man and Homo Sapiens.

The skull was found after two years of excavations in Xuchang and may be 100,000 years old.

"The discovery of the skull fossil has filled the gap between the period of the Ape Man and Homo Sapiens" - Li Zhanyang

There are 16 fragments which piece together to form an almost complete skull with protruding eyebrows and a small forehead.

Li Zhanyang, an archaeologist at the Henan Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, said: "The discovery of the skull fossil has filled the gap between the period of the Ape Man and Homo Sapiens."

In the same dig, more than 30,000 animal fossils have been found, along with stone and bone artefacts.

The team believe there are more treasures to be found on the site.

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