[Explanation] The open-access journal "The Innovation", which was launched on the night of June 25, with the title "Dragon Man: A Newly Discovered Branch of Humans", unveiled Ji Qiang, the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleohuman Studies The latest research results of the researcher Ni Xijun and his team: The ancient human skull fossils discovered in Harbin, Northeast China in the 1930s have a unique combination of characteristics and represent a new race, named "Homo longi" (Homo longi). ).
A few days ago, at Hebei University of Geosciences held an exchange meeting of major achievements in paleohuman research, Ji Qiang, a distinguished professor of the school and a "dragon man" researcher, said that the "dragon man" skull fossil was first discovered in 1933.
[Concurrent] Ji Qiang, Distinguished Professor of Hebei University of Geosciences
The fossil was found in Harbin, Heilongjiang. Heilongjiang and Bailongjiang are both called Longjiang, so I wanted to use the local place name to call it Longjiang, so I took a word for dragon and called it dragon, so that people can read it. Just know that this is a fossil of China.
[Explanation] The skull fossil of "Dragon Man" was donated to Hebei University of Geosciences in 2018.
In the past three years, the research team has carried out source and dating analysis, morphological research and system evolution relationship analysis, animal geographic model testing, etc. The research shows that the "dragon man" and the Homo sapiens are sister groups, and have recently shared ancestor.
[Concurrent] Ji Qiang, Distinguished Professor of Hebei University of Geosciences
The "dragon people", the Jinniushan people, the Hualongdong people, and the (Dali people) discovered in China. The people (species) found in these four places have the common characteristics of large brains and large brain capacity.
(They) formed a unique (ethnic) evolutionary branch of East Asia.
[Explanation] Ji Qiang said that in order to better find the common ancestors of the "Dragon Man" and Homo sapiens in China, based on the current data and distribution of ancient Chinese humans, four regions will be mainly targeted: Shaanxi and Shaanxi north of the Qinling Mountains. Neighboring areas, Hubei and neighboring areas south of the Qinling Mountains, North China with Hebei as the main body, and the Northeast area or the Songhua River Basin.
[Concurrent] Ji Qiang, Distinguished Professor of Hebei University of Geosciences
In the future, the focus of our work arrangements is that we have 4 target areas to work on. This is not something that Hebei University of Geosciences can do. The country needs to provide great support and unite with China’s best scientists (to work together) to overcome This difficulty.
Xing Lu, Li Xiaowei reporting from Shijiazhuang, Hebei
Editor in charge: [Song Fangcan]