Moroccan fossils suggest a common ancestor for humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans

Fossils found in Morocco may represent the last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. The 773,000-year-old fossils, including partial jaws and teeth, share traits with Homo erectus and Homo antecessor but are distinct. This suggests a deep African origin for Homo sapiens. The discovery supports the idea that early human evolution occurred in Africa, rather than Eurasia, and adds to previous findings of early modern human evidence in Morocco.