Research published in today's issue of the journal Science reports of a fossil in Spain that paleontologists believe may be the last common ancestor of great apes and humans.

The nearly complete set of remains were hailed as a major find for scientists tracing the evolutionary path of humans. At 13 million years of age, the fossil fills a gap in the record when great apes like orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas and humans split from lesser apes.

The fossil was named Pierolapithecus catalaunicus after a village in northwestern Spain.

Get the Story:
Fossil May Show Ape-Man Ancestor (The Washington Post 11/19)
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Fossils Found in Spain Seen as Last Link to Great Apes (The New York Times 11/19)
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Relevant Links:
Science - http://www.sciencemag.org

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