3.3 million-year-old fossil reveals the antiquity of the human spine

(University of Missouri-Columbia) An international research team has found a 3.3 million Australopithecus afarensis fossilized skeleton, possessing the most complete spinal column of any early fossil human relative. The vertebral bones, neck and rib cage are mainly intact. This new research, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science demonstrates that portions of the human skeletal structure were established millions of years earlier than previously thought.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news