The skull was originally found in 1933 by Chinese laborers building a bridge in Harbin, a northern Chinese city, during the Japanese occupation. To prevent the skull from falling into Japanese hands, it was wrapped and hidden in an abandoned well. It was only rediscovered in 2018 when the old man who originally hid it told his grandson, shortly before his death.
The skull also has a cranial capacity of approximately 1,420 milliliters or 48 fluid ounces, but the skull also possesses many primitive features that make it a unique link between modern humans and Neanderthals.
The new species was named Homo longi – or “Dragon Man” – referring to the valley it was found in.
Given the location where the skull was found and its large size, the team believes that the ‘Homo longi’ may have adapted well to harsh environments scattering all over Asia.
