Are the Dmanisi fossils evidence of one species or a crowded ancient neighborhood?

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In a small Georgian site, five skulls dating back 1.8 million years have ignited a fierce debate. Some researchers argue these fossils represent a single, highly variable species of early human, while others insist the dramatic anatomical differences prove that multiple distinct hominin species once lived side by side.

Discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia, these fossils are the oldest well-dated hominins found outside Africa, ranging from 1.85 to 1.77 million years old. The site has yielded over a hundred postcranial bones and five remarkably preserved skulls. These remains present a puzzling mosaic of traits: while their legs were essentially modern, suggesting an ability for long-range travel, their arms and small brain sizes—ranging from 545 to 775 cc—resemble earlier species like Homo habilis.

The central controversy concerns how to classify this population. In 2002, the discovery of a robust jaw, D2600, led some to propose a new species, Homo georgicus. However, after the 2005 discovery of Skull 5, the Dmanisi research team argued that all five skulls belong to a single species. They suggest that the significant physical variation between the specimens—such as differences in face shape and size—is comparable to the natural diversity seen in modern humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos. They contend that if these fossils were classified as separate species, Dmanisi would hold the world record for hominid diversity in a tiny area of just 40 square meters.

Critics, including Jeffrey H. Schwartz and Ian Tattersall, strongly disagree. They argue that the morphological differences are too profound to be dismissed as mere individual or sexual variation. They maintain that the D2600 mandible and Skull 5 should retain the distinct identity of Homo georgicus. This debate is not just about naming; it challenges how scientists interpret the fossil record. If the Dmanisi team is correct, it suggests that many other hominin species identified in the Pliocene and Pleistocene might actually be regional variations of a single, evolving lineage of Homo erectus.

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