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2mo ago

Oldest, Most Complete Homo Habilis Skeleton Described From Kenya

Peer‑reviewed analysis highlights robust upper limbs, with pelvic features pointing to more humanlike locomotion.

2-Million-Year-Old Fossil May Be The Oldest Example of an Early Human
Image
Two views of a modern-human skeleton showing the bones of H. habilis that were discovered in 2012.
Replica of a Homo habilis skull, not associated with this study

Overview

  • The specimen, KNM-ER 64061 from the Upper Burgi Member of the Koobi Fora Formation near Ileret, dates to roughly 2.02–2.06 million years and was detailed January 13 in The Anatomical Record.
  • The partial skeleton includes shoulder, arm, pelvic and sacral elements plus a nearly complete set of mandibular teeth, allowing confident attribution to a single Homo habilis individual.
  • Upper limbs show a high brachial index and unusually thick cortical bone, indicating proportionally long, strong forearms compared with later Homo species such as H. erectus.
  • Estimated stature is about 1.6 meters with body mass between 30.7 and 32.7 kilograms, smaller than typical estimates for H. erectus.
  • Pelvic fragments imply more humanlike lower-limb mechanics, yet the absence of secure leg bones leaves locomotor details and ancestry relative to H. erectus unresolved.