Overview

• Archaeologists unearthed a lower jawbone linked to early Homo, likely Homo erectus, at the compact Orozmani excavation south-west of Tbilisi.
• The find, dated to about 1.8 million years ago, was reported publicly on August 27 and adds to evidence of very early hominin presence outside Africa.
• Excavators also recovered animal fossils, including sabre-toothed tiger, elephant, wolf, deer and giraffe, alongside a cache of stone tools.
• Scientists say the jawbone and faunal remains could yield insights into diet, climate and behaviour during some of the earliest Eurasian settlements.
• The area sits near Dmanisi, where similarly ancient human fossils have been found, and teams report uncovering new Homo erectus material at Orozmani each year.