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FossilWLH-50 is a partial craniumfossil that was discovered in 1982,[1] in the Willandra Lakes Region of Australia and was reconstructed by Alan Thorne.[2] Based on its overall dimensions and the growth of cranial features, WLH-50 has been determined to be a male skullcap.[3] Speculation surrounds the exact age of this fossil hominid and a debate concerning its ancestry in relation to other late Pleistocene hominids, as well as Ngandong hominids due to their close resemblance to one another.[4]
Characteristics
It has been said that WLH-50 has many of the same features as Homo erectus, but some of WLH-50's most notable characteristics include:[5]
The fossil was discovered in a lake basin that undergoes several drying phases throughout the year. These phases cause displacements in the surrounding sediment and stratigraphy, thus making it difficult to properly date the fossil. There have been many attempts in trying to accurately date WLH-50 some of which include:[6]
It has been suggested that the latter technique provides a minimum age for this fossil, due to the fact that uranium uptake begins following burial.
Replacement Theory vs. Multi-Regional Mode
An ongoing debate within paleoanthropology is whether to place Ngandong hominids as Homo sapiens.[5]
Replacement theory predicts that Late Pleistocene Africans and Levantines are direct ancestors of WHL-50 and that Ngandong hominids are not direct ancestors of WHL-50.
The Multi-regional model considers Pleistocene Africans, Levantines, and Ngandong possible ancestors to WHL-50, making Ngandong a H. sapiens.[2]
^ abHawks, J; Oh, S.; Hunley, K.; Dobson, S.; Cabana, G.; Daylu, P.; Wolpoff, M.H. (2000). "An Australian test of the recent African origin theory using the WLH-50 calvarium". Journal of Human Evolution. 39 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1006/jhev.1999.0384. PMID10896810.
^ abHawks, J; Oh, S; Hunley, K; Dobson, S; Cabana, G; Dayalu, P; Wolpoff, M. H. (2000). "An Australasian test of the recent African origin theory using the WLH-50 calvarium". Journal of Human Evolution. 39 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1006/jhev.1999.0384. PMID10896810.
^Grün, R; Spooner, N; Magee, J; Thorne, A; Simpson, J; Yan, G; Mortimer, G (2011). "Stratigraphy and chronology of the WLH 50 human remains, Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, Australia". Journal of Human Evolution. 60 (5): 597–604. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.12.001. PMID21306757.