Earliest modern human fossils dating back 65,000 years discovered in Spain 

IN 1887!!!

The earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe dating back around 65,000 years has been revealed after a jaw bone was discovered in Spain. Although found in 1887, the bone was thought to belong to a neanderthal, who were known to inhabit the area before homo sapiens. But a re-examination of the lower mandible has revealed it could belong to a modern human and dates from 45,000 to 65,000 years ago. Rolf Quam, professor of anthropology at Binghamton University, State University of New York said: “We were confronted with results that were telling us Banyoles is not a Neanderthal, but the fact that it does not have a chin made us think twice about assigning it to Homo sapiens. “The presence of a chin has long been considered a hallmark of our own species.” The oldest confirmed modern human remains, identified using DNA, are from 44,000 years ago from a cave in Bulgaria.