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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Published on: August 15, 2018

The oldest Eurasian hominoid.

E P Heizmann¹, D R Begun

¹Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart, Germany.

Journal of Human Evolution

|October 30, 2001

Summary

The oldest European hominoid fossil, found in Germany, suggests early ape migration into Eurasia around 17 million years ago. This discovery highlights key adaptations for hominoid survival and spread.

Area of Science:

Paleontology
Primate Evolution
Neogene Mammal Studies

Background:

Engelswies, Germany, is a significant early Miocene vertebrate fossil site.
The site yields diverse terrestrial mammals, invertebrates, and fossil plants.
Dating of the locality is established through magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and lithostratigraphy.

Purpose of the Study:

To report the discovery of the oldest European hominoid fossil.
To establish the timeline of hominoid arrival in Eurasia.
To investigate potential adaptations contributing to hominoid dispersal.

Main Methods:

Stratigraphic analysis (magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy) for precise dating.
Paleontological excavation and analysis of faunal remains.

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Last Updated: Jul 25, 2026

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Published on: August 15, 2018

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Comparative dental morphology analysis of fossil hominoid teeth.

Main Results:

Identified a hominoid upper molar fragment at Engelswies, dated to 16.5-17.0 Ma.
This represents the oldest hominoid evidence discovered in Europe.
Hominoids likely arrived in Eurasia around 17 Ma, coinciding with other significant fauna.

Conclusions:

The Engelswies fossil provides crucial evidence for early hominoid presence in Europe.
Thick enamel and low dentine penetrance are proposed as critical adaptations for hominoid success.
These adaptations facilitated the westward expansion of hominoids across Eurasia and into Africa.