'Dragon Man' Skull Discovery In China Might Be New Addition To Human Evolution Tree

The discovery of a fossilized skull wrapped in cloth and stashed in a Chinese well nearly 90 years ago may force scientists to revise the history of human evolution.

The remains have revealed a new branch of the human family tree, pointing to a previously unknown sister group more closely connected to modern humans than the Neanderthals.

Chinese researchers have called the unusual fossil Homo longi, or "Dragon man."

"I think this is one of the most important finds of the past 50 years," Chris Stringer, research leader at the Natural History Museum in London, said. "It's a wonderfully preserved fossil."

Dragon Man had enormous, almost square eye sockets, thick brow ridges, a wide jaw and oversized teeth. According to Qiang Ji of Hebei GEO University, it is one of the most complete early human skull fossils ever unearthed.

"It has a mosaic combination of primitive and more modern features, setting itself apart from all the other species of human," the researcher explained.

Dragon Man, according to scientists, was powerfully built and rugged. However, little is known about his life because his skull was removed from the location where it was discovered. This means that there is no archaeological background, such as stone tools or other cultural artifacts.

The skull was discovered in 1933 by a construction worker laboring on a bridge on the Songhua River, which runs through Harbin, Heilongjiang province, and translates as the Black Dragon River, hence the new human's name.

The skull is enormous in comparison to the average skulls of other human species. Its brain was comparable in size to our species.

The scientists agree the skull belonged to a 50-year-old male who would have been a physically remarkable creature. His big, bulbous nose allowed him to breathe large volumes of air, indicating a high-energy lifestyle, and his sheer size would have helped him survive the region's brutally harsh winters.

Dragon Man is one of several early human remains discovered in China that have been challenging to categorize. These include remains from Dali, Jinniushan and Hualongdong, as well as the Tibetan Plateau's Xiahe jawbone.