Homo antecessor’s characteristics

What’s even more interesting is that the face of the Homo antecessor appeared relatively modern, too, especially on the middle part of its face. The ancient species also had cheekbones that seemed hollowed and noses that projected outward, just like today’s men and women. However, that’s where the two groups’ similarities end, as more ancient-looking qualities start making their way in.

As an example, the Homo antecessor had a brow ridge with double markings as well as a short forehead– a trait that mirrored Neanderthals and the Chinese Homo erectus. The oldest European fossils also indicated that the species had a set of teeth with long incisors shaped like shovels. On the other hand, the mandibular teeth are archaic to some degree. Their first lower premolar crowns had complex tooth root systems, and their first lower molar is smaller than the cusps of the molar crowns.