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A 300,000-year-old skull, discovered in Greece's Petralona Cave, is neither human nor Neanderthal. A new study used uranium-series dating of calcite on the skull to determine its age, settling previous debates. Researchers believe it belonged to a young adult male Homo heidelbergensis, a different human group that coexisted with Neanderthals in Pleistocene Europe. The findings support the idea of multiple human groups living together during this era. The skull's age is consistent with a similar fossil from Zambia, strengthening the classification of both as Homo heidelbergensis.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.