For the initial instance, the remnants of ancient hominins known as Paranthropus have been unearthed in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia. This discovery significantly broadens the known territory where Paranthropus once roamed, suggesting they inhabited a diverse array of ecosystems.
Paranthropus fossils have previously been identified in eastern and southern Africa, dating back between 2.7 and 1.4 million years ago. These hominins are believed to share a close evolutionary link with Homo, the genus encompassing modern humans and Neanderthals, and may have originated from earlier hominins, the Australopithecus.
Excavations in the Afar Depression
Since 2012, a team led by Zeresenay Alemseged from the University of Chicago in Illinois has been conducting excavations at a site named Mille-Logya, situated within the Afar depression in northeastern Ethiopia. This region is renowned as a rich source of hominin fossils, yielding numerous remains of Homo and Australopithecus. “Paranthropus had been eluding us,” Alemseged stated. “We had pretty much concluded that it had never made it that far north.”
The Unearthing of Key Fossils
On January 19, 2019, a local assistant presented Alemseged with a fragment of a lower jawbone, notably without any teeth. “The first thing that struck me was its size,” Alemseged recalled. Later that same day, the excavation team also discovered the crown of a left lower molar tooth.
A CT scan analysis confirmed characteristic traits of Paranthropus, not only in the overall size of the jawbone but also in its width-to-height proportions. Furthermore, the scan revealed the intricate structure of the tooth roots concealed within the jaw. While the researchers could not definitively assign the bones to one of the three recognized Paranthropus species, the geographical context suggests a potential link to Paranthropus aethiopicus or Paranthropus boisei.
Dating and Geographic Significance
The team reports that the jawbone has been dated to approximately 2.6 million years ago, based on multiple dating methodologies. This makes it one of the earliest known Paranthropus specimens. Carrie Mongle, an expert at Stony Brook University, New York, who was not involved in the research, commented, “There’s no question that it’s Paranthropus,” adding, “I don’t think there’s any question about the date.”
Previously, the northernmost Paranthropus fossil found was a skull discovered at Konso in southern Ethiopia. The newly found specimen is located over 1000 kilometers further north.
“The main point is that it expands the geographic range of Paranthropus,” stated Mongle, underscoring the importance of the find.
Evidence of Versatility and Adaptation
For Alemseged, this new specimen also serves as evidence of greater adaptability. The robust jaws and large teeth of Paranthropus have long been interpreted as adaptations for consuming tough, fibrous food. Although the specific diet of the Mille-Logya Paranthropus remains unknown, the surrounding area appears to have been relatively open, contrasting with the more wooded environments where other early Paranthropus specimens have been discovered.
“Yes, they were specialised,” Alemseged acknowledged, “[but] I think we might have inflated our understanding of that specialisation.” He suggests that their specialized physical traits did not preclude them from inhabiting both wooded and grassy environments. “Different Paranthropus populations were able to exploit different habitats based on where they lived, like Homo did, like Australopithecus did.”
Mongle noted that prior evidence already indicated Paranthropus’s success in adapting to new environments, citing their adaptation to the expansion of grasslands across East Africa and a presumed shift towards consuming more grasses. The discovery at Mille-Logya further reinforces the understanding of their adaptability.
Potential for Tool Use
In recent years, research has brought to light evidence suggesting that Paranthropus may have been capable of using, and possibly even manufacturing, simple stone tools. For instance, stone tools unearthed in Kenya in 2023 were found in association with Paranthropus teeth and no other hominin remains. In 2025, Mongle contributed to the description of the first Paranthropus hand, which exhibited a high degree of dexterity.
Alemseged finds this plausible, given the increasing evidence that Australopithecus could fashion and utilize tools, and that they predated Paranthropus. He posits that the capacity for tool use might extend as far back as the common ancestor shared with chimpanzees.