Fragments of a partial skull unearthed in a cave in northern Spain have revealed a previously unknown population of ancient humans, according to new research.

A blast from the past! Archeologists unearthed fossilized bone fragments in a cave in Spain that may represent a previously unknown species — making it the oldest-known human fossil ever discovered in Western Europe.

The prehistoric facial bones were found buried in 50 feet of mud and silt, and are believed to be 1.1 to 1.4 million years old, researchers said.

Scientists report that a fossil of a partial face from a early human ancestor in Spain is between 1.1 and 1.4 million years old

A fossil of a partial face from a human ancestor is the oldest in western Europe, archaeologists reported Wednesday. The incomplete skull — a section of the left cheek bone and upper jaw – was found in northern Spain in 2022.

Fragments of a partial skull unearthed in a cave in northern Spain have revealed a previously unknown population of ancient humans, according to new research.