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Early human fossils, Australopithecus africanus, originally dated at 2.6 million years old, are now thought to be a million years older than originally thought. This puts them in nearly the same time frame, 3.2 million years ago, as Lucy, whose species, Australopithecus afarensis, is considered to be the forerunner of early humans. The earlier dating for Australopithecus africanus, brings up the possibility that the two species interacted with each. According to the article, instead of single evolutionary lines like a tree, it looks more like multiple branches, like in a bush, came together to bring about modern humans.
The fossil age was determined by checking the date of the sediment the fossils were in. That dated to around 3.4 to 3.7 million years. The article didn't say why the fossils needed to be redated a different way.
The fossil age was determined by checking the date of the sediment the fossils were in. That dated to around 3.4 to 3.7 million years. The article didn't say why the fossils needed to be redated a different way.