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Glite Dictionary
Homo antecessor

Homo antecessor

9.9
An early human known from bones found in Spain about one million years ago
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Homo antecessor
  • In Europe, it perhaps gave rise to the species Homo antecessor, "Pioneer Man," known from the site of Atapuerca in Spain.

Examples

  • The fossilized remains of Homo antecessor found in Atapuerca, Spain, provide important insights into early human evolution.

  • Excavations in Spain have uncovered tools associated with Homo antecessor, indicating their advanced capabilities for hunting and gathering.

  • Researchers believe that Homo antecessor lived around one million years ago, making it one of the earliest known human species in Europe.

Surface Forms

Homo antecessor singular
Homo antecessors plural

Morphology

Homo + antecessor

This is a compositional Latin binomial: 'Homo' denotes the human genus and 'antecessor' (cognate of 'antecessor/antecessor' meaning predecessor/forerunner) yields the sense of an earlier or predecessor human. Because scientific species names follow this transparent pattern, a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'an early/predecessor human species'.

Etymology

The name Homo antecessor comes from Latin, with Homo meaning 'human' and antecessor meaning 'one who comes before'. Scientists used this name for very old bones found in Spain because this species seemed to come before later humans in Europe, so the name helps you remember it means 'an early human' species.