Homo antecessor is an extinct Late Genus Homo species who lived around 1.2 - 0.8 million years ago in the Lower Pleistocene epoch (García-Martínez). Fossil evidence of this species was first discovered at the Gran Dolina cave site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain in 1994 by Bermúdez de Castro  and dated to ~800,000 years old (Bermúdez De Castro).  Fossil evidence (dated ~1.2 mya), possibly representing Homo antecessor has also been found at Sima del Elfante. Until the recent discovery of hominin fossils dating to over 1.2 million years ago in the Atapuerca Mountains, the earliest known fossil evidence from the region came from the 800 kya remains at Gran Dolina. These findings support the idea that a speciation event occurred in this region during the Early Pleistocene. This event may have given rise to the hominin lineage represented at both sites. "Antecessor" means "pioneer", establishing Homo antecessor as the first hominin to occupy Western Europe (Carbonell). 

Homo antecessor potentially represents the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Homo neanderthalensis, and the Denisovans. Many researchers interpret these fossils as belonging to an early and morphologically diverse population of Homo heidelbergensis. However, Bermúdez De Castro and his team that discovered H. antecessor argues that it exhibits more similarities to modern humans than European H. heidelbergensis, and therefore propose H. antecessor as the last common ancestor of both Neanderthals and H. sapiens. Certain dental and cranial traits also support the idea that H. antecessor descended from H. ergaster (Bermúdez De Castro; Australian Museum).

The evolutionary origins of H. antecessor remain a subject of ongoing debate.  Researchers proposed that the species descended from a more derived form of H. ergaster, which may have migrated into Europe from North Africa. Initially, it was believed this migration could have occurred via a crossing of the Mediterranean Sea during a period of lowered sea levels. However, with updated geological dating pushing back hominin presence in Europe by approximately 300,000 years, a more likely route is now thought to be overland through the Levant, the Eastern Mediterranean corridor (Welder). What remains uncertain is whether H. antecessor evolved in Europe after arriving or if the speciation event took place in Africa prior to migration . The discoverers of H. antecessor propose a specific evolutionary and chronological model for its place within the human lineage. According to this view, Homo ergaster gave rise to H. antecessor in Africa. Around one million years ago, H. antecessor migrated out of Africa through the Middle East, eventually reaching Europe and settling at sites like Gran Dolina. In Europe, H. antecessor is thought to have evolved into H. heidelbergensis, which later gave rise to the Neanderthals (Australian Museum).

Despite the compelling evidence supporting H. antecessor as a distinct species, its classification has faced criticism. Skeptics argue that many of the midfacial traits used to define the species are not unique and can also be found in H. erectus, suggesting that the Atapuerca hominins from level TD6 may be better classified within classic H. erectus. Additionally, some caution that the defining fossils are largely from juvenile individuals, whose features may not fully reflect adult morphology (Trafi).

• Type specimen 

• Craniofacial and dental remains of Juvenile ~ 10 years old

• Partial face – left maxilla + zygomatic

• H. sapien like retraction of midface in ATD6-69 is a key aspect of H. antecessor in its recognition as a new taxon 

• Modern reduced face size contributing to impaction of third molar/wisdom tooth 

(Bermúdez De Castro; Trafi; CENIEH)

• Scapula of juvenile ~ 2-4 Years old

• Morphology more similar to modern humans than Dikika Child and chimpanzee

(García-Martínez)